Gore Bay Camping Mission - 5 min read
Gore Bay, late March 2023; the weather is fine and the waves are pumping!
A maxed out Gore Bay and a rare, firing Port Robbie...was it worth the tricky trek down to venture out? Definitely.
We arrived on a Friday night with enough daylight spare which showed us that the waves coming into Gore Bay itself had potential. The bay couldn't handle much more. It was starting to max out. With light fading fast and the creeping thoughts of a cold beer with mates, we set camp and waited with anticipation to see what was happening in the morning.
First light showed us what waited out there for those keen enough.
The ground was shaking with the weight of the waves crashing into the bay and after a couple of attempts Dave and myself broke through the white water (not easy on my 10'2) and out back to where the waves were offering some thrills and some shoulders to take off from.
On offer out there... fast take offs, short rides and the odd pounding. As I paddled out I watched Dave pull into this one, standing tall under the lip. Just about captured from shore by Pete. Dave there on the left of the photo.
Yep, the waves were closing quickly and heavily, but we'd made the effort to paddle out and had the place to ourselves. Resulting in some choice waves and loads of fun for over an hour.
After an exciting ride back through the shorey we dried off and basked in a bit of glory over a fresh coffee. The blood was still pumping when someone suggested we take a short drive to check out Port Robbie. The rarely working right hand point was working, and guarded by a decent trek down to the break, sharp rocks and "friendly" seals, we decided the waves were well worth it.
So, with one more coffee, breakfast, and a dry wetsuit we went for the second surf of the day.
We paddled out covered in mud from the messy lower part of the hike down. But with big smiles on our faces as we watched our mates - who were already out there - catch some long right handers.
Worn out after a couple of hours of amazing waves, a lot of paddling and loads of stoke it was time to call it a day.
The awkward exit from Port Robbie across sharp rocks, with a heavy sucking shore break and a long board under your arm reminded us what useless land mammals we really are, as the seals surfed in and exited the water with ease.
Time for a debrief and a brew in the back of a friend's camper whilst we gave the wetties have a chance to dry.
Day 2
The morning brought some real beauty. The bay itself wasn't quite working. So with a slower start to the morning under our belts we packed up and drove for another ganders at Port Robbie.
Port Robbie was again was offering some rarely seen conditions. So, another trek down, and another score. This time offering cleaner waves with less wind on them. And just seven of us from the Sumner Longboard Club out enjoying it.
We surfed with the seals for over 2 hours, halted only by exhaustion starting the creep in, and a heavy wipeout or two.
We tended to our various cuts and bruises after repeating the rocky exit and trek out from Port Robbie knowing how lucky we'd been to score waves like this there.
We booked the weekend without knowing the swell forecast; sometimes the surf gods just smile upon you.
Thanks to Bob, who was injured after taking a heavy one the previous day. Instead he watched and photographed us all having a session to remember from the cliff side...and made cocktails...legend.
Words by Rick
Photos by Pete, Bob, Rick and Lauren
Seventhwave Wetsuits I wore that weekend -
Day 1 morning - 3/2 back zip Viper steamer
Day 1 afternoon - 1.5mm Max Competition, chest zip long sleeved shorty (blue)
Day 2 morning - 2mm Short John