Irene Gibbs, front, and Krystal Ryan and Laura Andres at Waipu Cove.
Irene Gibbs, front, and Krystal Ryan and Laura Andres at Waipu Cove.
Hundreds of people soaked up the sun on Northland's beaches and thanks to calm seas surf lifeguards had an easy start to their summer patrols over Labour Weekend.
Lifeguards reported plenty of activity at the beaches and were thankful the seas were calm and there was little surf.
Crowd numbersrose steadily at Ruakaka beach over the weekend, with 92 on Saturday, 134 on Sunday and 106 yesterday. "Fairly average [head count], definitely on par for this time of year. The surf is flat as a pancake and the weather has been great. Everyone's been well-behaved and happy to be out in the sunshine I think," vice-patrol-captain Craig Platt said.
At Ocean Beach, between 60 and 100 people per day were on the popular beach over the long weekend. "The lack of surf has meant it's safe for everyone. The weather has been really good, very sunny. No rescues to report," Club captain Julian Pitman said.
Waipu Cove beach was full to the brim, although no incidents were reported.
"There's been a cool breeze and the waters totally flat. On average we have had 250 people on the beach, that's quite a high number for us," lifeguard Leo Channings said.
In the Far North, quite a few surfers took advantage of the balmy weather to take to the waters. Far North surf rescue secretary Liz Arcus said Labour Weekend also meant "home coming" for some which boosted numbers on the Ahipara Beach and Shipwreck Bay.
