Best Beach Vacations
at Auckland's West Coast

For best beach vacations at Auckland’s west coast understand the water movement.

Water forms a body that is moving along the surface of the sea. Wind, storms and tides produce differences on the surface pressure. Collected over hundreds of miles this differences become swells.

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Approaching land the bottom becomes shallower and the swells turn into waves. The shallower it becomes the higher the waves. They collapse and topple over and are now called surf.



Nature of waves

Incoming and outgoing tide influence the surf as much as the steepness of shoreline.

Steep surfing beaches cause the waves to break suddenly. The outcome is a plunging wave or dumper. The enormous power set free endangers surfers and swimmers. Thrown onto the sand with tremendous force severe injuries can be the outcome.

A surfing beach slowly sloping down forms spilling waves. Swimming and surfing New Zealand is fun under these conditions. At low tide tubes or tunnels are common formations.

The third wave form is a surging wave. They are found around rocks. They never break due to deepness of water below the wave.


Decide Where to Swim

Some secluded beaches are wonderful for experienced surfers. Without the presence of lifeguards it is important to know the surfing conditions, or to learn from an experieced surfer.

Watch the sea on Auckland's West Coast before entering the water. Look for the part where waves break evenly. It is the safest area on a surf beach for swimming and body boarding.

While out in the sea watch one landmark and react as soon as you drift away. This is particular important with strong currents like on beaches in West Auckland.

Should a rip carry you out to the open sea the most important is to stay calm. Do you still feel strong?

Keep a diagonal direction out of the feeder current when you are sure which direction the current is carrying you to.

Are you tired or an inexperienced swimmer? It becomes easier to swim out of the rip area when the water becomes deeper and looses momentum. By exhaustion float and lift one arm to give signal for help.

The life guards on patrol help you to find the safest area to grant your best beach vacations.

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