Travel Archives - Page 13 of 13 - New Zealand Surf Journal

The Life Of Kaya

Derek MorrisonOct 3, 2018July 25, 20240

There is no question that the Gold Coast of Australia has become the hotbed of surf talent in the Southern Hemisphere. It has such a concentration of talent that when one of its fabled sandy points break, no waves go unridden and the menu is barrels, airs and fully buried...

Watch: Nias Goes Wild During The Mega Swell Of The Century

Derek MorrisonSep 28, 2018March 1, 20190

Here’s a great insight into the Mega Swell that hit Indonesia in late July 2018 and turned Nias from an idyllic paradise into a frightening wave of consequence. Grab a coffee, turn the quality to HD, hit full screen and enjoy.

Fiji Launchpad 2017: Four Rising Stars Versus Cloudbreak

Derek MorrisonSep 27, 2018February 8, 20190

Friday is our last day in Fiji. It is a day of mixed emotions. Firstly, it is sad to leave the friends we’ve made but nice to know we’ll soon return to our families and friends. Our boatman Felipé has a tear in his eye as he hugs each of...

Hardly Charging: A Deep South Strike Mission With Filmmaker Jono Smit

Derek MorrisonSep 27, 2018February 8, 20190

Christchurch surfer and filmmaker Jono Smit gathers up a talented Dunedin crew including JC Susan, Jonas Tawharu and John Courian for a strike mission in the deep south. As autumn played its end game for 2018 the team paddled into some wild, cold waves. But they were wide open. Sit...

Insider: Top 10 Tips For An Epic Samoan Surf Trip

Derek MorrisonSep 12, 2018February 8, 20190

A surf trip to the idyllic, laidback islands of Upolu, Samoa, has to rate as one of the best experiences of the South Pacific. Time it with a decent swell and you’ll be in the firing line for some of the most memorable waves of your life. Here’s our top...

Travel Notes: Samoa’s Infectious Charm

Derek MorrisonSep 12, 2018February 8, 20190

We’ve just experienced a fia fia – a local carnival that welcomes guests into a village in Samoa. In our case that’s Salani village on the southern shores of Upolu, Samoa. We’re here for a group 40th – a bunch of mates using the milestone to chalk up some island...

Ziggy Alberts Shrugs Off The Sleet To Score The Barrel Of His Life In New Zealand

Derek MorrisonAug 29, 2018March 1, 20190

The forecast promised 5m at 13 seconds. Thoughts of it possessed me so I retreated to a favourite Catlins haunt only to stumble across an incredible session – not only for the waves, but for the quality of the characters chasing the peaks. One blonde-haired 20-year-old Aussie from Byron Bay...

The Salty Sea Dog Of Little Avalon

Derek MorrisonAug 28, 2018August 29, 20180

For eight years I sat next to an intriguing character in a Sydney Chinatown office called Andy Wigan. He was the editor of a dirt bike magazine – I was his deputy and we both shot for the magazine. He was as confronting and testing as he was passionate, dedicated...

Five Minutes With: Maz Quinn (And Why Wave Pools Rule)

Derek MorrisonAug 13, 2018February 8, 20190

It’s one of those swells. Every ten minutes a pulse that gets you excited, but in between a calm pool of blue with the occasional rideable ripple. It’s been like this all week with the same crew hunting the sets on the favourable tide led by Josh Thickpenny and Luke...