travel Archives - New Zealand Surf Journal

Ship’s Log Indian Ocean, Day 4: Rain At Roxies

Derek MorrisonAug 18, 2023August 18, 20230

Roxies is a fun little righthander in a picturesque bay that is filled with turtles, occasionally crocodiles and, at times, a boatload of Brazilians (until our skipper evicted them). Going right with just our crew out was a welcome change of pace after two days at busy Macaronis. Like magic...

Five Minutes With: Surf Travel Expert Pete Head

Derek MorrisonAug 11, 2023April 9, 20240

He’s shepherded more Kiwi surfers into world-class waves than you imagine, and he’s tasted the product throughout his 20 years in the game. Island Holidays’ front man and travel guru Pete Head shares some of his travel wisdom with NZSJ. Pete, now 49, is a born and bred West Auckland...

Ship’s Log Indian Ocean, Day 3: More Macaronis Please

Derek MorrisonDec 30, 2022August 17, 20230

The swell that was supposed to kick in yesterday begins to fill in by the next morning. We are ready and champing at the bit. The funnest wave in the world awaits us … The routine we set on these early days becomes the everyday ritual for the trip. We...

Ship’s Log Indian Ocean, Day 2: Macaronis

Derek MorrisonDec 13, 2022August 18, 20230

Macaronis has become such a famous wave that you need to book a slot to surf it. Which we did for two days … just as a new swell arrives. That’s the magic of having one of the most connected surf operators on board. So, it took us all by...

Ship’s Log Indian Ocean, Day 1: First Day Froth

Derek MorrisonDec 7, 2022August 18, 20230

Nothing makes sense about the journey. We pass over Padang twice before we land there. We watch the 40 boards (for 11 of us) being thrown like firewood on the tarmac at Jakarta. The streets of Padang are a sight that few of us are expecting: a kind of chaos...

Inside Camper Life With Craig Levers

Derek MorrisonOct 4, 2021October 4, 20210

Surf photographer Craig Levers, or CPL, as many will know him by his picture credit, is a bit of a nomad. Like most surfers he likes to travel. That has led him into a whole new world of escapism and the vehicles that deliver us to dream locations. Craig was...

Paige Hareb, Saffi Vette Chasing Olympic Qualification In El Salvador

Derek MorrisonMay 26, 2021July 25, 20240

Traveling while the world is flaring with Covid 19 is never an easy decision to make, but if Olympic qualification is top of your goals, then you have very little choice. New Zealand Surf Journal catches up with Paige Hareb and Saffi Vette as they begin their journey at the...

Artist Insight: Spanish Visual Storyteller Sara Guix And Her Love For New Zealand

Derek MorrisonJan 12, 2021July 25, 20240

New Zealand has a special magic that is sometimes hard to see from within. For Spanish-born visual storyteller Sara Guix that elixir drives her creativity and has captured her heart. Since 2015 Sara has been based in Raglan and spent her time wandering New Zealand’s coastline, in search of waves,...

Watch: A Thank-You Letter To New Zealand

Derek MorrisonJan 12, 2021July 25, 20241

In 2015 Spanish-born filmmaker Sara Guix visited New Zealand for a year. She hasn’t left. In this film the 30-year-old visual storyteller shares a heartfelt thank-you to New Zealand. Filmed from January to December 2020 Sara offers the piece as “a gift for helping me find peace in a time...

Watch: Lost Track, A Surf Adventure Through New Zealand

Derek MorrisonSep 10, 20200

Lost Track follows two Byron Bay mates surfer Torren Martyn and filmmaker Ishka Folkwell as they embark on the journey of a lifetime throughout New Zealand in search of perfect waves and life long memories. Their three-month motorcycle surfing adventure takes them into the depths of our great southern land...