Auckland

The Auckland Surf Park community will provide consistent, ocean-like waves in a safe, controlled environment, removing barriers like marine hazards and unpredictable conditions. Customisable waves cater to all ages and abilities, with elevated viewing areas offering a unique perspective on the action.

COVID-19 hit New Zealand’s tourism sector hard, and Auckland now faces strong competition for visitors and investment. A next-generation surf park will attract surf tourists and adventure seekers, boosting tourism spend and supporting local operators, attractions, and accommodation providers.

No.

The Auckland Surf Park community will be developed entirely using private funding sources, and will not bear any cost to the Auckland Council or the New Zealand Government.

The project is expected to generate over $1.64b in regional economic impact, including through employing local Aucklanders and supporting New Zealand supply chains.

The Auckland Surf Park is anticipated to create 11,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions during construction and into operations.

The Auckland Surf Park community is positioned to benefit from future links to public transport hubs in Albany and Silverdale.

The Auckland Surf Park community is accessible via car and bus (with ample on-site parking available), bicycle and e-bike (with bike parking available), and walking tracks.

Yes. AW Holdings is committed to delivering a sustainable community for the Auckland Surf Park, including regenerating an existing stream on site, and preserving the area’s rural character through naturescaping.

Plans include capturing excess heat from an adjacent Ten Peaks data centre to warm the lagoon, powering the site with a 7-hectare solar farm, harvesting rainwater on site, and using recycled water.

Waves are created in the Auckland Surf Park’s surfing lagoon using a Wavegarden “Cove” wave generator, which is an advanced, highly efficient electro-mechanical system.

Wavegarden is widely considered to be the market leader in the rapidly emerging sector of dynamic, artificial surfing waves, with 12 surf parks using the “Cove” system currently in operation across four continents.

The “Cove” wave generator is the most energy efficient artificial wave generator in the world. The “Cove” uses approximately ten times (10x) less electricity than competing wave-generating technologies per wave produced, delivering superior environmental and operating cost outcomes while also creating high quality surfing rides.

In terms of electrical energy, the Auckland Surf Park will likely require an equivalent amount of energy per year as would typically be used by an indoor aquatic centre. To the greatest extent possible, AW Holdings intends to procure the power for the Auckland Surf Park from clean and renewable energy sources, including through on-site rooftop solar.

Yes.

AW Holdings intends to procure the power for the Auckland Surf Park from clean and renewable energy sources.

A 7-hectare solar farm is intended to provide renewable energy for the data centre, with rooftop solar helping to power the surf park’s buildings and amenities.

The Auckland Surf Park is also planned to incorporate solar-passive built form design.

The surf park’s wave generating technology, the Wavegarden Cove, offers the lowest energy and water consumption of any of the systems currently available in market.

Water conservation is a very important consideration for AW Holdings (as a team of lifelong, passionate surfers), and for the Auckland Surf Park community.

The intention is to use a combination of harvested rainwater, recycled water and bore water to fill and top up the surfing lagoon as required.

The net evaporation rate for the lagoon will mean that approximately 50ML of water replenishment will be required per annum to maintain a safe operating water depth.

This is equivalent to the amount of water used to maintain 3 holes on a golf course (representing just ~16% of the total on an 18 hole golf course), and is significantly less than what is required to maintain a horse racing track.

Replenishment of the lagoon will be met through a mix of rainfall and ground water top up.

Sophisticated water catchment and inflow techniques to harvest rainfall from built form amenities will be installed during development to further reduce the Auckland Surf Park’s water consumption.

As a high precision electro-mechanical device, the wave generator creates very little audible noise during operation. Only the gentle sound of peeling waves can be heard, resulting in a minimal overall auditory impact, particularly in the context of being located adjacent to Dairy Flat Highway.

The surfing lagoon will be floodlit to allow it to operate in the evenings. However, this lighting will utilise high definition LED luminaires which will be directed downwards toward the pool and as such have very limited light spill. There will be normal security and operational lighting for the surf park’s facilities including the accommodation and F&B, as well as for car parking, the data centre and the solar farm.

Yes. The large, crystal-clear surfing lagoon offers mesmerising views of breaking waves, providing the feeling of being at the beach and one with nature.

The visual amenity of the site will complement the rural aesthetic of Dairy Flat and the north Auckland region, enhanced through using natural building materials, incorporating high-quality naturescaping, planting native species and thoughtfully designing built forms.

Vegetated, landscaped embankments will be formed around the surfing lagoon’s permitter to ensure that it seamlessly integrates within the existing landscape.

Our intention is not just to retain the rural aesthetic, but to enhance it, including through the regeneration of the riparian wetland and streams. Our architectural partners include a world class outdoor landscape expert.

The site is currently cleared gazing land, with limited habitat for native species. Prior to construction activity commencing, a native fauna relocation programme will be undertaken.

The next-generation surfing lagoon at the Auckland Surf Park can generate a wide variety of wave types that can be customised to suit surfers of all ages, abilities and board preference.

From gentle, 0.5m high rolling whitewater for children and beginners, through to powerful, 2.0m high barrelling and performance waves that challenge even the most advanced surfers, the Wavegarden “Cove” can deliver surfing experiences to upwards of 90 surfers per hour across four surfing zones.

The size, speed, power and pitch of the waves in a Wavegarden “Cove” can be regulated at will, and adjustments can be made to suit different wind and daylight conditions.

Across the Wavegarden “Cove’s” four surfing zones, up to 1,000 waves per hour can be produced – however in commercial operations the system is usually set to produce around 300-500 per hour to ensure that each wave produced is of sufficiently high quality to deliver an optimal surfing experience.

Waves are created in the Auckland Surf Park surfing lagoon in a similar way to the ocean – water is propelled out over a shallow floor profile or ‘bank”, which causes a wave to form and then fold, or “break”, on itself.

In the case of Wavegarden “Cove” technology, an electro-mechanical wave generator runs along the central axis of the surfing lagoon (which is shaped like a baseball diamond) and displaces large volumes of water on either side of the generator in sequence, creating perfectly formed surfing waves over the lagoon floor, which has been designed to mimic a point break or sand bar.

No.

The Wavegarden “Cove” surfing lagoon can be divided up into two types of breaks – the “Reef” which is suited to novice, intermediate, advanced, and expert surfers, and the “Bay” which is suited to new and beginner surfers, along with swimmers and children.

For each of the “Reef” and the “Bay” there are both right-hand (i.e. breaking from right to left when the wave is viewed from behind) and left-hand (i.e. breaking from left to right when the wave is viewed from behind) breaking wave zones, creating a total of four surfing zones in the lagoon (being a “Right Reef”, “Left Reef”, “Right Bay” and “Left Bay”).

As the power, speed and sequence of the Wavegarden “Cove” generator is varied, the lagoon creates different types of surfing waves in the “Reef” zones, from gentle, 0.5m high rolling whitewater for children and beginners, through to powerful, 2.0m high barrelling and performance waves that challenge even the most advanced surfers.

Waves in the “Reef” zones can be near identical in size and shape (thereby creating an ideal training environment), through to partially randomised waves that change in height, speed and section. These variations can be created in real time, during the course of the ride.

Additionally, removable features can be added to the floor profile of the surfing lagoon to create “close-out” sections which facilitate the practice and performance of technical turning and aerial manoeuvres.

Conversely, waves created in the “Bay” zones do not vary significantly, and this repeatability provides new and beginner surfers with an optimal training ground to learn to surf and develop fundamental skills before progressing out the back to the “Reef” zones.

As the waves in the “Bay” zones are much smaller, and break closer to the lagoon shoreline, this also provides a safe and controlled environment for younger and less confident participants.

The shape and quality of waves in the lagoon are also affected by natural factors such as tidal movement and the wind, similar to the ocean.

From the point waves are created in the apexes of the surfing lagoon, energy is constantly imparted into the wave by the wave generator, ensuring the wave has consistent power, height, shape and form throughout the course of each ride.

This differs to some other wave generating technologies, where energy is immediately lost from the wave as soon as it is generated, meaning that it rapidly reduces in size, shape, speed, and power the further it travels.

No surfing experience is needed!

The Auckland Surf Park can accommodate new surfers, beginners and novices, right through to advanced and elite surfers simultaneously across the lagoon’s four surfing zones.

Beginners and less confident surfers can learn, practice and refine their skills in the “Bay” zones of the surfing lagoon (including with the assistance of experienced surf coaches) until they are ready to progress out the back to the “Reef” zones – similar to different grades of ski slopes at a snow resort.

The Auckland Surf Park will have experienced surf coaches, surf guides and lifeguards who will ensure a safe, controlled and monitored surfing environment.

Improving water safety, awareness and skills development is a key priority.

The Auckland Surf Park team has engaged with Water Safety New Zealand, Surf Lifesaving New Zealand and Surfing New Zealand regarding ways we can collaborate on educational programs (such as Surfers Rescue 24/7) to help reduce injuries and tragedies in the water, including drownings.

Yes.

New, beginner and novice surfers experience a vastly accelerated rate of learning and progression in Wavegarden “Cove” lagoons than in the ocean.

The repeatable, predictable canvas offered by the waves in the “Bay” zones (as well as during novice sessions in the “Reef” zones which produce ‘Waikiki-style’ and malibu surfboard-friendly waves) enable beginners to focus on their technique, and have their learning journey supported by experienced coaches and video analysis, within a safe and controlled environment.

Other variables, such as shallow sandbanks that create “dumping” conditions, large and unpredictable swells, strong rips and currents, and crowded lineups are also removed in a surfing lagoon.

Progression in surfing is dependent on a number of factors, including how regularly you surf, the number of waves you ride, time spent in the water, and the culture of the lineups in which you practice.

Unlike other sports, surfing is typically reliant on the right conditions (including tide, swell, winds and crowds) being present during daylight hours, and at a time when you are free to participate.

The Auckland Surf Park will remove these barriers, allowing surfers to conveniently surf as regularly as they choose, at whatever time suits them best.

Given the advanced training facilities and equipment that will be proximally located to the surfing lagoon, the Auckland Surf Park will also be the ideal training venue for advanced, expert and elite surfers, including the New Zealand Olympic surfing team.

This “surf laboratory” for sports scientists, physiologists, wellness and medical practitioners, shapers and surf hardware companies to develop and experiment with new equipment, surfing techniques, training and new technologies in a controlled environment is a significant breakthrough in surfing, and an environment not previously available in an ocean context.

A range of surfing, aquatic, wellness and fitness experiences will be available at the Auckland Surf Park community , including memberships, sessions, lessons and retreats. There will be different pricing offered depending on:

• which surfing zone a guest is surfing within – being the “Reef” or “Bay” zones;
• whether group or personalised coaching is offered;
• whether the activity takes place during a peak or off-peak time period; and
• whether the guest is an adult, student/concession holder, or child.

Pricing for Auckland Surf Park experiences is yet to be finalised, and will be announced closer to the finalisation of construction and first waves being produced.

As an action sport, there are some inherent risks associated with surfing, but under normal conditions surfing is typically a safe activity.

The Auckland Surf Park will be designed with safety and risk mitigation as a fundamental priority. The surfing lagoon offers a safe, controlled and supervised environment for participants of all ages and abilities, and as such most of the hazards of ocean surfing (including marine hazards, dangerous conditions and overcrowded lineups) can be avoided, managed or minimised to greatly improve the user experience.

Experienced lifeguards, surf guides and surf coaches who have been specifically trained in the Wavegarden “Cove” surfing lagoon environment will further enhance guest safety at the Auckland Surf Park.

Yes.

The Auckland Surf Park will offer a safe, controlled surfing environment for people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels to learn to surf and to progress their skills. Surfing lagoons like the Wavegarden “Cove” are ideal for introducing the sport of surfing to those who do not have access to waves, and for non-abled bodied people to try surfing for the first time.

With the benefit of the Auckland Surf Park, surfing can now be for everyone.

The Wavegarden “Cove” generator is located beneath a pier that physically separates surfers, and the surfing lineup, from the wave generator. The pier is shrouded in a cage-like mesh barrier that guests, surfboards and even fins cannot penetrate, yet it allows water to pass through without impedance.

This means that guests and their surfing equipment are always safe from the wave generator’s moving parts, while also not impacting the size, quality or movement of the waves.

It is no more dangerous at the Auckland Surf Park if a surfer falls off their board, than if they fell off their board while surfing in the ocean.

Arguably in fact it is safer, as there will be no submerged, non-visible hazards below the water surface, waves can be stopped using an emergency switch, and the surfing lagoon will be at all times patrolled by experienced lifeguards (who will also be supported by trained surf guides and surf coaches).

In addition to the surfing experiences offered in the Wavegarden “Cove” lagoon, the Auckland Surf Park will also feature non-surfing amenities such as:

• high-performance sports facilities, including a surf academy, fitness and recovery centre.
• eco-cabins and lodging accommodation.
• local markets celebrating local growers, artisanal produce, makers and creators.
• hospitality venues, including a café and lagoonside restaurant.
• rental centre offering boards, wetsuits and surfing equipment for hire.
• surf and beach lifestyle retail store.
• kids playground and water play features.
• community functions and event spaces.
• naturescaped gardens and lawns, walking tracks, day beds, hot tubs and pools.

The Auckland Surf Park will be a place to enjoy incredible surfing experiences, along with other complementary activities, events and programs that will establish the venue as a must-visit destination for locals, Aucklanders and New Zealand visitors alike.

Some of the non-surfing activities planned for the Auckland Surf Park community include:

• Regular community, music, art and cultural events – such as charity fundraisers, photography exhibitions, live acoustic music and shaping demonstrations.
• Surf fitness, surf skate and skateboarding programs;
• Yoga, pilates, foundational and high-intensity functional training;
• Wellness, meditation, mental health and fitness retreats; and
• Massage, spa treatments, physiotherapy and chiropractic consultations, and other recovery and services.

Yes.

When the wave generator is turned off, the surfing lagoon can be utilised for swimming and other water sports activities, like paddleboarding, SUP yoga, freediving and scuba diving training.

The surfing lagoon can also be used to provide aquatics education and safety training, such as drowning prevention courses and Surfers Rescue 24/7 programs (a collaboration between Surf Lifesaving New Zealand and Surfing New Zealand).

We also intend to collaborate with Water Safety New Zealand to improve moving water skills and awareness, in an effort to lower Aotearoa’s high ocean drowning rates.

The Auckland Surf Park will offer a range of beach and non-aquatic activities and amenities for guests, along with high performance training programs.

The Auckland Surf Park can also be hired for private functions, corporate offsites and events.

The Auckland Surf Park includes a lagoonside restaurant, café and retail store that will offer expansive, uninterrupted views of the surfing lagoon and surrounding naturescaped areas.

It is envisaged the lagoonside restaurant, café, retail store, kids playground and local markets will be freely accessible by the general public.

We also plan to naturescape public cycling routes and walking trails through the Auckland Surf Park.

AW Holdings also plans to work with the local Dairy Flat community to offer local residents, particularly school aged children, seniors and people with disabilities, discounted entry rates during specific periods.

Yes.

AW Holdings is planning to host regular special events in partnership with community organisations and charities to provide opportunities for people with disabilities, physical and mental health challenges, underprivileged groups and disaffected youth to experience the joys of surfing, and to benefit from the amenities that will be developed at the Auckland Surf Park.

For these special events, AW Holdings will need volunteers to assist us, and free entry to the surf park and surfing will be provided for both participants and volunteers.

Throughout the planning and development process, and once operational, AW Holdings will work closely with the Auckland Council, local residents, community organisations, and charities to generate support for these initiatives.

Yes.

New Zealand has the highest ocean drowning rate in the world, and an overwhelming number of those are around beaches in the Auckland and Northland areas.

The Auckland Surf Park will facilitate solutions in this area by offering supporting programmes that address this issue, but in a safe environment.

We have collaborated with Water Safety NZ, Surf Lifesaving NZ and Surfing NZ around managing a solution to this problem by using the pool and other facilities at the park.

We have engaged a widely-respected cultural advisor to work with us in our engagement with local iwi. A number of hui have been held, and will be conducted throughout the development process. Several iwi representatives have visited the proposed Auckland Surf Park site.

As only a fixed number of guests can use the surfing lagoon per hour, the traffic to and from the Auckland Surf Park (along with parking) will largely be self-regulating and steady over the course of a day.

On weekends and public holidays guest density is likely to be higher, however the Auckland Surf Park is proximally located to the Hibiscus Coast Park And Ride Bus Station at nearby Silverdale adjacent to State Highway 1, providing multiple methods of transport to and from the surf park which will reduce local road congestion.

The Auckland Surf Park also includes the development of approximately 245 guest parking bays (including 10 with EV chargers), 20 campervan bays and 2 coach bays for group transportation by bus.

In any event, the Auckland Surf Park is still subject to resource consent and planning approval, and throughout the development process, AW Holdings will work with adjoining land owners, local residents, businesses and community groups, Auckland Council, and the New Zealand Government to ensure any impact is minimised to the greatest possible extent.