Growing up, I was constantly in the water and learned to bodyboard and then surf at a fairly young age. Luckily for me, our family camp spots had plenty of good beaches for me to surf at. This, and some of the older kids I hung out with, helped shape my obsessive chasing of waves. My surfing addiction comes and goes with whatever else is happening in life, but it’s fair to say it’s back in full swing now.

The thing is that I’m constantly torn between the outdoor activities that fulfil my life: riding, mountain biking, bikepacking, surfing, camping, and trail running. There are a few more, but that already seems a lot to me, listing them here. These days, with good forecasting, if the surf is pumping, it’s hard not to resist the temptation to go out.

In Aotearoa, the winters start to become a bit of a drag. The outdoor pursuits can still be had, but they come with more layers, and there’s often rain. A short flight away lurks a large continent – Australia. In the northern parts, it’s warm, and the surf pumps – even during their winter months. A cheap flight deal to the Gold Coast, Queensland, was email marketed to me and, not giving it too much thought, I grabbed a return ticket.

A few weeks beforehand, the surf forecasting was on and off for the period. So, a few variations of the trip were planned out – a few bikepacking routes inland, either north or south. I often talk these trips through with my wife, Philippa, and she always listens but then says it will change, so I don’t take notice until it happens. And, Philippa was right, there was a yin and yang between surfing and bikepacking for a week.

As my departure date edged closer, the swell looked to be lining up for around the day of my arrival. Of course, this fed my addiction and made me check the Surfline app way too many times in one day. So, I scrapped the bikepacking itinerary and packed my bike, surf rack and surf gear. The new idea was that I’d hire a surfboard and explore some of the best surf spots in the world, or at least what Australia has to offer. I’d ride to the surf spots, check them out, get ready, lock my bike, surf for a few hours, grab a coffee, then ride back to my digs for food.

The shorter trip meant it would make sense to only take larger baggage items. And, trying to keep my trip thrifty, I didn’t want to pay those pesky airline baggage charges. So, the bike along with a surfboard rack, were packed into a large eBike cardboard box to keep overall weight under 23 kgs – avoiding extra charges again. On the bike, I would use a full-frame bag, a rear rack, and the surf rack would be fitted to the seatpost.

The day of departure, all packed and waiting at the end of my driveway around 4am, the taxi didn’t turn up in time. Luckily, it eventually showed up without too much time lost, although it was a slightly stressful way to start the trip! I landed on the Gold Coast just before 8am, built my bike, left my baggage at the campsite, and rented a surfboard. The forecasting was correct, and the surf was bloody pumping: 4 – 6ft offshore point-break waves and I was surfing them before midday. I couldn’t quite believe I left a dark home in the midst of winter only a few hours ago, and now I was surfing in board shorts with the temperature in the mid-twenties.

The thrifty trip meant for cheap digs. The Kirra Beach Holiday Park was the best location for its proximity to the surf zones and airport, and wasn’t too far from the shops. A small cabin with a bed, fridge, couch and not much else cost less than three hundred bucks for three nights. To keep it cheap, I flew over early morning and left early evening, meaning four days on the ground, but three nights charged at the campground. On the arrival and departure days, I could leave my stuff there and still be able to surf and explore without shelling out extra cash.

The next day, onshore winds prevailed and cancelled out most of the surf zones for the day. The strong wind also isn’t kind to cyclists, but I had already dreamt up several loops that I couldn’t wait to explore. And besides, staying in the camp cabin, watching the bloody news cycle with a glitching television, wasn’t the trip I had imagined. The route consisted of main roads, back roads, rail trails, and little hidden villages bordering Queensland and New South Wales. To get deeper, the surrounding hills would need to be tackled. Lush rainforest, champagne gravel roads, and tucked-away locations that felt like I’d gone back in time. They also provided a nice place to rest and get some sustenance. After a seven-hour ride, I collapsed on the couch in the tiny cabin after the ride. It was now getting dark, and I needed some food. I washed and rode over to Eddie’s Grub House. A dark, dingy surf bar with posters littering the brick walls, punk music played loudly, and beer served cold. I pulled up at the bar to eat a burger and fries – both were great – and sipped a beer whilst people-watching.

The surf rack, when loaded with the surfboard, was quite interesting to ride. I would need to lean the bike over heaps to get my leg over. Once on the saddle, you can feel the board only being attached to the bike by the seatpost, which kind of reverberates through the rear of the bike. On the way back and forth to the beach, the rack would catch wind, especially with the surfboard being just over six inches. The rack was a breeze to use, however, with two straps and two cradles wrapped around the board. And you can throw your towel, rash shirt, or anything else on there to dry whilst you ride. For shorter rides, it was good, but for super long rides, it might become difficult. I am keen to try a few different setups going forward, and a few mates within the cycle industry have said a trailer may be best.

The surf was back on for the next few days. I found myself constantly checking weather and surf forecasts, so I decided to be more spontaneous and just ride to the surf spots. I packed my bike with my surf gear, sunscreen, and a towel and headed off. The simplicity of riding made getting to the waves enjoyable. I’d park my bike, lock it up, and head into the water. After surfing, I’d dry off, grab a coffee, and watch the surfers then return to the campsite. Then, I’d cook a meal and read a book. The slower pace of this travel allowed me to relax and feel like time had slowed down. Being away from the constant hustle and bustle of life is refreshing and something I crave more as I get older.

Of course, this isn’t the typical way to spend a bike or surf trip, but why not blend them together? We often overlook that a bike is not just for recreation, but also for transportation. It’s a versatile tool that allows you to cover ground while taking in and exploring your surroundings. For me, having the option of surfing satisfies both my physical and mental needs. For a short trip, the experience was incredible. Being solo allowed me to immerse myself in the trip completely. Of course, there were times when it would have been better to share, but sometimes you need to do things for yourself. The dreamy days of riding to some of Australia’s best surf spots, will be a story to tell for a while. I hope to be venturing further into this world and am already dreaming of ‘surfpacking’ trips.