Discover Aotearoa/New Zealand
Where waves and nature speaks for itself
beyond the ordinary
Discover Aotearoa/New Zealand
Where waves and nature speaks for itself
Surfing enthusiasts flock to New Zealand's North Island for its unmatched convenience and variety. With the Tasman Sea on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, surfers can swiftly switch between coasts to chase the best conditions making it ideal for all skill levels.
Scoring good waves can be tricky without a local guide, as shifting winds, variable swells, and diverse surf spots reacting differently to subtle changes make it easy to miss the best breaks. Local knowledge makes all the difference.
New Zealand offers beautiful waves year-round, but February through June is considered prime time. During these months, multiple swell directions converge while the lingering warmth of summer keeps water and air temperatures comfortable, creating consistently dynamic and high quality conditions.
Combined with New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes and raw coastal beauty, this season provides the perfect window to experience everything the North Island’s surf scene has to offer from powerful west coast swells to clean, lined-up east coast perfection.
The North Island delivers uncrowded perfection
- If you know how to unlock it
All photos featured on this website were captured by Gianluca or friend and photographer Callaway Ramsey during our many surf trips around the North Island, documenting some of the best moments in our life. Who we are
Gianluca and Briar, living in Raglan, New Zealand have got a serious love for the ocean, outdoor adventures, cooking up a storm, and making people feel welcome. They have spent almost ten years exploring the country, never tiring of the incredible waves, the friendly people, and the stunning natural beauty. Briar grew up along some of the most gorgeous coastlines here, so she knows this place like the back of her hand. Gianluca, originally from Europe, after surfing and living all over the world, found the perfect spot in New Zealand with its amazing waves and laid-back lifestyle. What they are really good at, is planning epic surf trips in this country, finding the best waves, cool things to do when they're not surfing and digging into some seriously delicious food.
testimonies
We could tell you how good the experience is — but we’d rather let our guests speak for themselves. Here are a few words from surfers who’ve joined us on our North Island adventures.
Gianluca is one of a kind. Gentle soul, big smile, incredible surfer. I’ve spent years chasing waves around New Zealand with Gianluca and he has a remarkable talent for finding mystical waves and threading empty tubes. His connection to the land, to the local people, and to the ocean is truly something special. He’ll make you laugh and he’ll make you the best damn pasta you’ve ever had. You won’t regret going on an adventure with him.
Holden Trnka - Stab magazine editor
I went with Gianluca, a good friend of mine who decided to build his life on the beautiful island of New Zealand. He took me to the best spots, always chasing the best conditions. Somehow, we were always in the right place at the right time.
Thanks to his knowledge and experience, I got to discover some of the best waves I’ve ever surfed.
I’d 100% recommend him as a guide to anyone who wants a real surf trip with a real surfer: scoring epic, lesser known waves and living the full experience, not just the tourist version.
Federico Nesti - Former Longboard European Champion
Gianluca was my only connection in New Zealand and we based our entire road trip around the Surfline forecast for both coasts and his recommendation which route to take to score the best waves around the north island! With the volatility and ever changing weather in New Zealand, we would of had no clue where do go after Raglan if it wasn’t for him! In addition to all the spots around the country to chase waves, he also pointed me in the right direction for some of the best waterfalls, deserted beaches and hiking opportunities so my kids and wife were stoked too! Thanks again Luca we can’t wait to come back!!
Mikey- Owner of Costa Rica Surf Yoga
Gianluca is the expert when it comes to scoring fun waves in New Zealand. My wife and I travelled around the North Island for a short time and wanted to fit in as much as we could. Without Gianluca’s guidance and recommendations, we would have missed some of the best waves around the areas we were traveling through. There’s nothing worse than going to a new place and missing a surf session because you had no clue where to look or how to get there. Gianluca is super friendly and has become a local fixture in the Raglan community. If you’re going to New Zealand and want to make sure you’re looking in the right places for waves, Gianluca is your man!
Sebastian Moreno -Surf travel Advisor
The times I have spent on the roadwith Gianluca have been some of the most joyous moments in my life. Surfing and exploring remote waves in the most beautiful country I have had the privilege of visiting. SSA is more than just a surf trip, it’s an adventure.
Callaway Ramsey -Professional Surf-photographer
Our experience with Gianluca was honestly unbeatable.
From the first time we spoke with him about the trip, talking through what boards to bring and what kind of waves we could expect that time of year, you could already tell how much he knows and how much he cares about doing things properly.
Once we got there, it only got better. Gianluca is an incredible host, but what really makes the difference is the amount of work he puts in behind the scenes. He does deep, detailed research on the whole New Zealand coastline, constantly checking swell, wind windows, tides, always looking for the best possible combination. And if that meant driving, we drove. We were chasing offshore winds and pumping waves from one coast to the other.
New Zealand is huge, wild and not easy to read at all. Without someone like Gianluca, it would have been a lot of guesswork and too much hard work. With him, it just felt smooth, you knew you were gonna be on the right place at the right time.
We already had high expectations for New Zealand, but this trip went way beyond them. And that’s mainly because we did it with Gianluca. We’ll definitely be back!
Gudi and Mark- Serial Surf addicts
