What to pack
Shorter list than you think. We own the expensive stuff; you own the togs.
By Tony Donaldson, Operations Manager, Aotearoa Surf
What we supply
Surfboards, wetsuits, and on stays the SUPs, kayaks and bikes too. Camps add all meals; tours add the welcome dinner and camp kitchen. Leave your garage at home.
The core list, everyone
- Togs (two pairs beats one, nothing dries overnight in a teepee)
- Two towels: one for the beach, one that stays dry
- Sunscreen, zinc, lip balm: the NZ sun does not negotiate
- Warm layer for evenings, even in January
- Jandals plus one pair of real shoes
- Refillable drink bottle
- Any medication, clearly named, and told to us at booking
Camps, ages 8 to 18: add
- Sleeping bag and pillow if your booking confirmation asks for them
- Enough clothes for six days of a kid having the best week of their life
- A book or cards: devices spend camp in the office
Surf & Stay and tours: add
- Evening-nice clothes for the village cafes at Mangawhai
- Camera or a phone with space: golden hour here empties batteries
You won't be guessing
The moment you book, a detailed confirmation email lands with everything you need to know. A week out from camps, retreats and tours the updates start: surf and weather outlook, timings, and a reminder of exactly what to bring. And once camp is rolling, you (or the caregivers back home) get daily email updates with an online photo album, so the grins arrive before the washing does.
The three things everyone forgets
A dry bag for wet togs on the trip home; a beanie (yes, even summer, the east coast breeze finds wet hair); and cash-free is fine, everything on site is cardable. Honourable mention: leaving room in the bag, because the retail shed's merch has a conversion rate we are proud of.
Sorted? Pick your dates: camps, tours or Surf & Stay.