general information

Easily one of the best left hand point breaks in the world. A naturally occuring reverse superbank. This spot was the star in Bruce Brown's epic 'endless summer'. Back then there wasnt really a crowd to contend with, times have changed somewhat. When all of the peaks here are firing you can see up to 100 surfers in the water.

The number of peaks is a blessing, whilst it is technically possible on perfect swells to ride all the way from Peaks through to Supertubes and beyond, it is the exception. Typically it is a matter of choosing a peak that suits you best (both in terms of ability and crowd factor) and enjoying. The nearby town of Ahipara is a great place to base yourself to explore Northlands treasures. Rumour has it there are several outer breaks further around the headland, worthy of inspection in larger clean swells. I'm sure that the locals would be very happy to share the names and directions with you!

Shippies works by wrapping a solid SW swell around the headland so whilst it's rarely flat, it can be small but ideally suited to a longboard. Even when small, the wave has superior carry and distance. The outer points such as Pines really need at least 2-3 metres to pump. If one of your life goals is to try a few solid waves here then start inshore on the more forgiving peaks and then paddle out as your confidence increases. A few surf schools in the area if you are just beginning. A true wave for the masses, from beginners to pros alike.