Waipaoa River

Waipaoa River is an exposed river-mouth/sandbar surfing spot at the south side of Gisborne, where waves are heavily shaped by shifting river bar conditions. The break is described as punchy and powerful, with multiple peaks and both left and right handers when the bar is formed, including a right-hand point on the southern side of the river mouth. Because the river mouth setup is so changeable, the spot is widely characterized as working only once in a while and without a consistent seasonal pattern for reliable surf. The working window most often cited is mid to high tide, with the best swell generally coming from the south to southeast. When conditions align, wave quality can be good, but increases in swell/sweep can make it heavy and more difficult to manage. Safety is a major consideration. Strong rips and undertow are common near the mouth, and the river can bring down substantial debris—especially after heavy rain—so water can become murky and hazards such as large floating logs and submerged material become more likely. Sharks are also specifically called out as a risk. Riders are advised to avoid going right after heavy rain, as the bars change frequently after floods and debris levels rise. The spot is aimed at advanced surfers: multiple sources explicitly discourage beginners and emphasize that it should be left to experienced/expert riders. Localism is described as mild, but when the bar is firing the spot can get crowded; surfers are encouraged to know the rules, respect locals, and surf with a mate when conditions are large.