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Hurry and register!
18th May 2013
There’s still time to register for the celebrations
.jpg "RB 40 v2 logo(copy)") Red Beach Surf Club is still taking registrations for its 60th Jubilee celebrations which will take place on the weekend of 24, 25 & 26 May.
The 40th Anniversary of Nippers and JuniorSurf is also being celebrated over the same three days.
The club is inviting all past and present members to register for the events. For the registration form, click here …
Email: jubilee@redbeachslsc.com
.jpg "Rodney Times Logo(copy)") The club's 60th Jubilee celebrations are proudly supported by the Rodney Times.
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60th Jubilee Article # 2
Era of Heron boats
19th May 2013
.jpg "Flying Herons Logo(copy)") For 25 years the name Heron has appeared on Red Beach Surf Club boats. During this period, Bryan Heron has provided and sponsored no less than six surf boats.
The very first Heron boat was handed over to the club in October 1988. Seven years later, in 1995, the second Heron boat was given to the club, emblazoned with ‘Flying Herons’, the name which has carried through to present-day. We bring you our pictorial coverage of memorable moments during the past 25 years of Heron surf boats.
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1988: The very first surf boat provided by Bryan Heron to the Red Beach Surf Club was given a champagne launch at Red Beach in October 1988. It was part of a sponsorship package from B H Heron Plumbing which included a new double ski, sponsored shirts and equipment.
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1995: A second boat was donated to the club, signwritten Flying Herons. It was launched during a Masters surf carnival on Waitangi Day 1995.
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1999: The third surf boat, Flying Herons II made its appearance on the club scene in February 1999.
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2002: The club again witnessed Bryan Heron’s generosity when a fourth surf boat Flying Herons III was given a pre-season launch at Red Beach.
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2005: A champagne launch for Hector’s Surprise at the club in February 2005. The boat was later given the name Flying Herons.
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2007: Pat & Bryan Heron with a victorious crew. At the NZ Championships in Gisborne in March 2007, Red Beach won the Open Men’s surf boat long course event for the second consecutive year. Photos by Ross Malyon.
This article is brought to you by The Flying Herons, proud sponsors of the 60th Jubilee celebrations.
Pick the champions
18th May 2013
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The above pic was taken at a JuniorSurf training day at Red Beach in October 2005. Two of the youngsters in the photo have since gone on to win NZ Championship titles and three have been selected for regional rep teams while in the U16 division. Can you identify them?
A super enlargement of this photo will be on display during the Jubilee celebrations. Photo by Ross Malyon.
Rodney Times gives support to Jubilee
18th May 2011
Full backing for 60th Jubilee with a 4-page feature
The Rodney Times has thrown its support behind the Red Beach Surf Club and the 60th Jubilee celebrations.
The newspaper will carry a 4-page feature in its edition on Tuesday 21 May with articles and photos reflecting on all six decades of the club. The Rodney Times is the club’s exclusive media partner for the event.
Copies of the feature will be available at the Red Beach Surf Club on Sunday 26 May when the Jubilee celebrations conclude with ‘Time at the Club’ and activities for the JuniorSurf division which mark its 40th anniversary.
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Patrolling at two beaches: One of the articles covered in the 4-page feature in the Rodney Times. Photo by Ross Malyon.
Prize Giving Night
10th May 2013
Red Beach Surf Club capped off another successful season with an equally successful prize giving function in early-May. With Hookers & High Rollers – or anything beginning with the letter H - as the dress theme, the clubrooms were packed to capacity to give recognition to those members who excelled in both surf lifesaving and surf sports during the past summer. Here’s our photo essay on the evening.
For the list of award winners on the night, click here.
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Celebrating the season's successes at the club's prize giving night.
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Mark Scheib, Jacqui Scheib and Paul Boocock all went for the Hippie look.
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Ashleigh Jenkins, Madison Smith and Zita Talaic-Burgess from the Sirens surf boat crew.
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John & Kellie Brooke with Michelle & Wade Downey at the prize giving night.
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Georgia Lloyd and AJ Maney chose the letter H for their dress theme.
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Club patron Bryan Heron, left, with Wendy Taylor, Pat Heron and Mike Taylor.
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Jaime Busby, Hannah Everitt and Georgia Cox.
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Hugh Hewhnga (aka Dean Pouwhare) with Sandy Pouwhare and club coach Vaughan Skiffington.
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Rebecca Pearce, left, and Hannah Williams also went for the Hippie look.
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Robyn Presland, Al Presland, Sandy Grant & Stuart Grant at prize giving night.
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From left: Toby Hurley, Jarrod Olsen, Mitchell Grant, Sam Young.
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Ian Cairns, left, with Kevin & Tane Smith.
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Janet Lee Martin with Chris Gurr who was awarded the President's Cup for Best Clubman.
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Craig & Cherie Dillon at prize giving night. Photos by Ross Malyon.
Events coming up
5th May 2013
Fri 24 May RED BEACH SLSC 60th JUBILEE : Mix & Mingle Night 'Sixty Shades of Red'
Sat 25 May RED BEACH SLSC 60th JUBILEE : Diamond Night - 60th Jubilee Banquet with entertainment
Sun 26 May RED BEACH SLSC 60th JUBILEE : 'Time at the Club'
Sun 9 June IRB Driver training commences
Sat 6th July SLSNR Awards of Excellence Night, Eden Park Level 4 Lounge, 7.00 pm
Sun 28 July Red Beach Surf Club AGM
Jubilee registrations
25th April 2013
You need to register for the celebrations!
Red Beach Surf Club is calling for registrations for its 60th Jubilee celebrations which will take place on the weekend of 24, 25 & 26 May.
The 40th Anniversary of Nippers and JuniorSurf is also being celebrated over the same three days.
The club is reaching out to all past and present members to register for the events. For the registration form, click here …
And we’re asking you to pass on the Jubilee dates to all ex-members that you know of who may want to attend. There are many that we don’t have contact details for.
Email: jubilee@redbeachslsc.com
The club's 60th Jubilee celebrations are proudly supported by the Rodney Times.
Ocean waves
30th March 2013
Photo # 142 in our series on ocean waves. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
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Beach relay bronze
21st April 2013
Relay team takes bronze at Australian Champs
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From left: Jake Hurley, Campbell Busby, Mitchell Grant, Jordan Downey.
The club’s beach relay team of Jake Hurley, Campbell Busby, Mitchell Grant and Jordan Downey ran into third place in the final of the U17 men’s beach relay at North Kirra. It was the second bronze medal to be picked up by the club at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Gold Coast.
The young runners took out the U16 men’s beach relay title for the second consecutive time at the NZ Championships held at Mt Maunganui in March. The team’s first win came at the National Championships in Gisborne in 2012.
Taplin bronze in Oz
19th April 2013
Bronze medal for Red Beach U17 Taplin relay team
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Photo taken by Jamie Nilsson / MJ Photography
Red Beach has collected a bronze medal in the U17 women’s Taplin relay at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. The successful trio on the beach at North Kirra, from left: Briar McLeely, Kelsi Boocock, Hannah Williams.
Behind the scenes ...
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Dinner at the team's accommodation on the Gold Coast. They were joined by Red Beach club patron Bryan Heron and his wife Pat.
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The boys take care of the after-dinner clean-up at the team's motel.
Photos courtesy of Pat Heron.
Lifeguard awards
14th April 2013
 Red Beach Surf Club’s lifeguard ranks swelled further this month when 16 members obtained the Surf Lifeguard Award. Fourteen of the successful candidates will move in U19 and U16 ranks next summer. Congratulations to the following who passed the exam:
Luke Bretnall, James Daish, Taylor Duncan, Chelsea Grant, Oliver Howard, Levon Hutchinson, Craig Malyon, Rhiana McAnnalley, Tayne Morgan, Elliott Nuttall, Oliver Parris-Piper, Tim Parris-Piper, Kayla Rickaby, Hayden Shaw, Jack Smith, Sarah Lockwood.
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The 16 successful candidates with Red Beach Surf Club instructors at the Surf Lifeguard Award exam in April.
Check the weather
14th April 2013
To check the weather forecast for the next 5 days, click here and enter your city in the search box.
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A boy for Naomi!
14th April 2013
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Red Beach clubbie Naomi Young has given birth to a fine wee fella who has been given the name Mahe Peter Stokes Jensen. He was born on 28th March and weighed 7lb 10oz. Congratulations to all!
60th Jubilee Article # 1
Modest beginnings for Red Beach SLSC
7th April 2013
The Red Beach Surf Club, following its formation on 31st May 1953, set out on a sandy pathway to grow its membership and establish its headquarters.
By October 1953 a constitution had been drawn up and, as read by Hugh Watt MP, was adopted. Hugh Watt had a holiday bach in the adjacent Pinewoods Motor Camp.
By April 1954 negotiations were under way with the local authorities to obtain a section for the purpose of erecting a clubhouse. Fundraising was under way from the word go. Read more ...
This article is brought to you by The Flying Herons, proud sponsors of the 60th Jubilee celebrations.
The opening of the original Red Beach clubrooms in 1959. The building served as the surf club’s headquarters for 24 years before being demolished in 1983 when the club’s existing clubrooms were opened. This building was situated on the land which is now the Red Beach Waterfront Reserve.
Ocean waves
30th March 2013
Photo # 141 in our series on ocean waves. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
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Fishing competition
30th March 2013
Red Beach Surf Club’s recent family fishing competition reeled in more than 200 anglers and raised $11,000 for various surf lifesaving projects. We were able to hook the following pics for this photo essay.
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Club members at the weigh-in outside the Red Beach clubrooms.
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Red Beach squash club member Bill Henderson landed this 6.905kg fish which earnt him third prize in the biggest snapper section.
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Mary Kramer (9), the winner in the Junior section for her 2.345kg kahawai, was presented with a brand new rod and reel by Robyn Presland of Subway.
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Red Beach surf boat sweep Craig Dillon (red hat) with the day’s catch at the weigh-in.
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Blair Cranston, left, of Cranston Homes presents Paul Butterfield with a rod & reel for third place in the biggest kahawai section.
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Club coach Vaughan Skiffington fillets fish with Kathy Kramer of JuniorSurf.
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Russ Kern, left, of Kern Consultants with Peter Michael who landed a 7.555kg snapper, the heaviest fish caught in the competition.
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Carrying out chef duties at the fishing competition, from left: John Brooke, Sean O’Kane and Alistair Presland.
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Leigh Morton, centre, won a brand new rod and reel for her 2.27 John Dory in the open species section. Making the presentation is Tanya Dowd of Barfoot & Thompson, Orewa. At right is Bill Boon, the MC for the prize giving function.
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Wayne Brown of Whangaparaoa, centre, won the spot prize draw for the Prowler 4.1 Ocean Kayak, Arctic paddle and an Osprey PFD jacket supplied by Johnson Outdoors Watercraft in Silverdale. Photos by Ross Malyon.
Fishing competition pulls bigger numbers
25th March 2013
Sun shines on anglers in annual fishing contest
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The winning fish, shown on the right, was a 7.55kg snapper caught by Peter Michael in the kayak section.
 Red Beach Surf Club’s family fishing competition reeled in 204 registered anglers, the biggest number since the event started up.
The contest, sponsored by Hutchinson Consulting Engineers for the second consecutive year, saw a number of large catches although anglers reported that many undersized fish, mainly snapper, were thrown back into the water.
The biggest fish caught, a 7.55kg snapper, was pulled up by Peter Michael in the kayak section, a new division in the contest. His 7.38kg snapper won him second prize in the same section.
The Red Beach surf clubrooms were packed to capacity for the prize giving which saw section sponsors Subway, Cranston Homes, Barfoot & Thompson, Kern Consultants and Ocean Kayak make the presentations. Photo essay to follow.
For the results from the fishing competition, click here
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Anglers queue up for the weigh-in outside the Red Beach Surf Club.
213 National Titles
20th March 2013
Red Beach Surf Club has collected 213 National titles during its 60 year history. The club's first title was won in 1958 at South Brighton, Christchurch when the Senior 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation team took out the Nelson Shield, the blue riband event of the NZ Championships.
The greatest number of gold medals collected by the club at a national event was in 2006 at New Plymouth when 17 titles were won.
At the 2013 Nationals held at Mt Maunganui, Red Beach won a further nine titles to take the overall tally to 213.
The club has won the Allan Gardner Memorial Trophy for overall points at the NZ Championships on four occasions. The wins came in 1991 (Gisborne), 1992 (New Plymouth), 1993 (Mt Maunganui) and 2006 (New Plymouth).
The Allan Gardner Memorial Trophy, symbol of national supremacy, has been won by Red Beach on four occasions.
Looking ahead 3 yrs
 20th March 2013
We take a diary look at some major events coming up during the next three years …
2013 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, North Kirra, Gold Coast, 15-21 April
2013 Red Beach SLSC 60th Jubilee plus 40th Anniversary of Red Beach SLSC Nippers & JuniorSurf - 24, 25, 26 May
2014 NZ Surf Life Saving Championships, Whakatane, 6-9 March
2014 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, Scarborough Beach, Western Australia, 31 March - 6 April
2014 Rescue 2014 - Lifesaving World Championships, Montpellier, France, 14-29 September
2015 'The Gallipoli 100' surf boat event, April 2015. Anniversary of Gallipoli landing
2016 60th Anniversary, Owen Chapman Cup Surf Carnival
20th March 2013
Check the weather
20th March 2013
To check the weather forecast for the next 5 days, click here and enter your city in the search box.
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Athletes show class at National Champs
17th March 2013
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Red Beach scoops up 28 medals at Nationals
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Top Auckland club at the premiere surf event
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Kelsi Boocock successful with 7 medals
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The U21 women's surf boat crew won gold in the long course event and silver in the short course event at the Nationals. From left: Liz McGlashan, Christa Hanson, Georgia Cox, Hannah Everitt, Craig Dillon (sweep).
Red Beach’s surf athletes ran, swam, paddled and rowed their way to a total of 28 medals at the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships.
Competing at Mt Maunganui, they collected 9 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze medals over three days of intense competition. The medal haul was nine more than the previous year.
In the quest for the Allan Gardner Trophy for surf lifesaving supremacy, the club finished in third place on overall points. A total of 45 clubs – represented by nearly 1,700 competitors – took part in the event. Read more ...
For the Red Beach athletes who won medals, click here
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Caitlin Ryan being interviewed by Jamie Troughton after winning the open women's surf ski title for the second consecutive year.
Red Beach's U16 men's beach relay team made it back-to-back wins when they retained their title at Mt Maunganui. From left: Jake Hurley, Campbell Busby, Mitchell Grant, Jordan Downey.
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The U19 women's Taplin relay team following their gold medal winning performance at the Mount. From left: Briar McLeely, Louise Aitken, Kelsi Boocock.
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Hannah Williams, in her first year in women's U16 ranks, took out the Diamond event.
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Red Beach also won the U16 women's Taplin relay. From left: Rebecca Pearce, Kelsi Boocock, Hannah Williams. Photos by Ross Malyon.
Ocean waves
17th March 2013
Photo # 140 in our series on ocean waves. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
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Club snares 3 golds
10th March 2013
Red Beach athletes collected three gold, two silver and two bronze medals on Day Two of the State NZ Surf Life Saving Championships at Mount Maunganui.
The day began with beach flags for all age divisions on Main Beach, however, boisterous surf conditions forced a switch for the remainder of the Saturday events to Shark Alley, a few hundred metres to the south. The more manageable surf enabled tube rescue and board rescue events to take place.
Jake's golden flag
Jake Hurley capped off a highly successful season of beach competition by taking out the U16 men's beach flags title at Mount Maunganui. It was Red Beach's first gold medal for the day.
Chris & AJ nail it
AJ Maney, left and Chris Moors powered home to win gold in the open men's tube rescue final at Shark Alley. Later in the day the duo took out the bronze medal in the final of the open men's board rescue event.
Lauren's golden run
 Lauren Bailey, right, showed a clean pair of heels in the U19 women's 2km beach run. Competing on the soft sand of Main Beach, she put in a blinder to win the gruelling event by a comfortable margin, picking up the club's third gold medal for the day.
She also collected a bronze medal when she paired with Louise Aitken to take third place in the final of the U19 women's board rescue event.
The club's two silver medals for the day were also collected at Shark Alley, see below.
Kelsi Boocock, left, and Georgia Lloyd teamed up to take out the silver medal in the final of the U19 women's tube rescue event.
Daniel Cairns, left, and Matt Thetford crossing the finish line to pick up the silver medal in the final of the U19 men's board rescue event.
Photos by Ross Malyon.
Medals start to flow
9th March 2013
Three silver, six bronze medals collected
The U19 men's surf canoe crew picked up silver and bronze medals on the opening day of the Nationals. From left: Campbell Busby, Connor Mathers, Jordan Downey, Xavier Rice.
 Red Beach surf athletes collected a total of nine medals on the opening day of the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships at Mount Maunganui.
The Lazy Andreys canoe crew paddled home for a silver and a bronze in the U19 men's long and short course events.
A silver medal went to the U19 men's ski relay team of Daniel Cairns, Matt Thetford and Cody Richards.
And in the surf boat arena, the Blakey's Angels crew rowed into second place and a silver medal in the U21 women's short course boat final.
Briar McLeely, left, and Louise Aitken paddled to a bronze medal in the U19 women's double ski final.
The U19 women's surf team swam to a bronze medal. Lining up for the start of the race, from left: Kelsi Boocock, Lauren Bailey, Hannah Williams, Courtney Spencer.
The Red Beach Rockets canoe crew with their bronze medals from the U19 women's short course canoe event. From left: Jessica Cornish, Courtney Jenkinson, Anna Harkin, Jaime Busby.
The U16 women's surf race team swam into third place to collect bronze medals. On the dais, from left: Rebecca Pearce, Kelsi Boocock, Jacinta Borer, Hannah Williams. Photos by Ross Malyon.
Three golds for Ian
7th March 2013
Day One of the Nationals at Mount Maunganui
Masters competitor Ian Gunthorp was the stand-out competitor for Red Beach after he bagged three gold medals at the NZ Masters Surf Life Saving Championships at Mount Maunganui.
Competing in the one metre surf, he won both the surf race and the run-swim-run event in the 60-69 age group.
He then went on to win the Taplin relay in the 150+ years division with Mark Readman and Dean Pouwhare.
Red Beach's 'Rockin Reds' surf canoe crew of Kathy Kramer, Megan McKenzie, Sharon Turner and Jennifer Hall won gold in the women's short course surf canoe in the 160+ years division.
For the Masters story and overall points, click here
After a 3-race series, the Rockin Reds canoe crew won on overall points in the 160+ years division in the women's short course canoe event.
Winners of the Taplin relay in the 150+ years division, from left: Mark Readman, Ian Gunthorp, Dean Pouwhare.
Mark Scheib in the Masters ski relay.
Shane Lodge passes the baton in the Masters beach relay.
The Flying Malyons canoe crew paddled into second place in the final of the Masters 160+ years division of the short course canoe event.
The Red Beach Flying Herons canoe crew placed second in the final of the 160+ years division of the women's short course canoe event.
Red Beach had five canoe crews competing in the NZ Masters Championships at Mt Maunganui. Photos by Ross Malyon.
Red Beach runner-up at Oceans ’13 event
4th March 2013
Club brings home 7 gold, 7 silver, 7 bronze medals
Red Beach JuniorSurf competitors at Mt Maunganui for Oceans '13.
 Red Beach’s JuniorSurf athletes took the club into second place overall at the recent Oceans ’13 event.
Close to 800 athletes aged 10-13 years converged on Mt Maunganui for four days of action in the surf and on the sand.
Red Beach went in as defending champions and held the overall points lead after three days of some outstanding competition in which youngsters from around the country displayed an amazing array of surf skills.
The club was dead-locked with Papamoa on 53 points each, right up until the final event, the Grand Cameron relay. Papamoa won the relay and captured the overall points trophy.
Red Beach came away with 21 medals in total.
Final Points: Papamoa 58, Red Beach 53, Mount Maunganui 49, Orewa 44, Mairangi Bay 36, Omanu Beach 34, Whakatane 21, Lyall Bay 19, NPOB 16, Waihi Beach 14, Midway 13, Westshore 12, Waikanae 10, Muriwai 8, Paekakariki 7, Sumner 7, Whangamata 6, Wainui 6, Warrington 4, East End 4, Titahi Bay 3, Pukehina 3, Piha 3, Ocean Beach 3, Waimairi 3, Otaki 3, Maranui 1, St Clair 1.
Hamish Gledhill after winning the U13 board race. He came away from Oceans '13 with four gold medals.
Jade Tuilaepa crosses the line first to win the U13 girls' board race final.
The start of the 2km beach relay in which Red Beach placed third.
Photos by Ross Malyon.
Swell forecast
4th March 2013
Want to know the sea swell forecast for the next 7 days around the New Zealand coastline? Click here.
4th March 2013
Two Red Beach club members met with success at the NZ Kayak Championships held recently at Blue Lake, Rotorua.
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Caitlin Ryan won gold in the U23 women’s K1 500m final
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Karl McMurtrie won gold in the U16 men’s K1 200m final
Check out the tides
4th March 2013
The tide chart is a popular link on this website. If you're wanting to know the tide times for a specific day on either coast, right through 2013, click here.
Winners at the NRC's
4th March 2013
Our photo essay on the Northern Regional Championships at Ruakaka gives recognition to the Red Beach athletes who won titles during the two-day event. We weren't able to capture all winners on camera, however, we extend congratulations to all the NRC placegetters who delivered some highly impressive results. Red Beach won the championships for the fifth consecutive time.
Overall Results (top 12 clubs): Red Beach (192) 1, Mairangi Bay (143) 2, Papamoa (129) 3, Piha (101) 4, Orewa (73) 5, Mt Maunganui (58) 6, Whangamata (36) 7, Muriwai (21) 8=, United (21) 8=, Omanu (14) 10, Karekare (13) 11, Bethells Beach (8) 12.
Winners of the U16 men's board relay at Ruakaka, from left: Mitchell Grant, Jake Morgan-Kemp, Izaak Scheib.
Kelsi Boocock on her way to winning the U16 women's surf race. She also took out the U16 Diamond event.
The Lazy Andreys canoe crew, winners of the U19 short course canoe event. From left: Jordan Downey, Connor Mathers, Campbell Busby, Xavier Rice.
Winners of the U19 ski relay, from left: Louise Aitken, Lauren Bailey, Briar McLeely.
AJ Maney winning the open Ironman event. He also took out the open surf race.
Winners of the U16 women's board relay and Taplin relay events, from left: Hannah Williams, Kelsi Boocock, Rebecca Pearce.
Matt Thetford, left, and Daniel Cairns made it a quinella for Red Beach in the U19 men's Ironman event.
Rebecca Pearce on her way to winning the U16 women's board race.
Caspian Smith was first to cross the finish line in the U19 men's 2km beach run.
The Red Beach Rockets won the U19 women's short course canoe event. From left: Courtney Jenkinson, Jessica Cornish, Jaime Busby, Anna Harkin.
Jake Hurley grabbed the last flag in the U16 men's beach flags event.
The duo of Kelsi Boocock, left, and Hannah Williams won the U16 women's tube rescue event.
Matt Thetford won the U19 men's board race.
Winners of the U19 women's board relay, from left: Madeline Readman, Lauren Bailey, Louise Aitken. Photos by Ross Malyon.
59 years ago …
20th May 2012
A drowning shapes history
The following article on the formation of the Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club appeared in the “8 O’Clock” sports newspaper on Saturday 6th June, 1953. The club is now entering its 60th year of operation.
New breakfast menu
19th April 2012
 There’s a brand new Sunday breakfast menu in place at the Red Beach Surf Club.
Give your Sunday a kick start with a Quiche Supreme or a Clubman Special. Or try Adam & Eve on a Raft. But if you’re really hungry, go for the Big Breakie.
Enjoy breakfast over the bay – a great way to start Sunday – at the Red Beach clubrooms where the meals are just as superb as the view. Available every Sunday from 9.00 am – 12 noon. And while you're at the club, enjoy our popular Espresso coffee.
To check out the Sunday breakfast menu, click here.
Flashbacks …
10th April 2012
Series 20 … photographs from yesteryear
March 1993: Red Beach Surf Club’s Nipper representative team which won the Cath & Eddie Millar Cup at Mangawhai Heads in March 1993.
Can you spot the following team members? Vaughan Skiffington, Serena Ball, Steven Ferguson, Chris Whitehead, Philip Taylor, Justin Taylor, Isaac Kett. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
February 1981: Red Beach Surf Club’s first IRB, launched at Red Beach on 21.2.81, two years before the opening of the new clubrooms. The presentation of the IRB was made possible through joint sponsorship from the Northcote and Birkenhead Lions Clubs. Pictured, from left: Rob Ferguson and Malcolm Beattie (both from Auckland SLSA), Trevor Hefford (Birkenhead Lions), Lance Earney (Northcote Lions).
January 1996: Red Beach and Collaroy lifeguards at Mt Maunganui for the NRC’s. It was the summer of the inaugural Lifeguard Exchange between the two clubs. At left, Vaughan Skiffington and Hugh Roberts who travelled to Collaroy in December 1995, with Blake White and Nathan Tucker from the Collaroy Surf Club.
Olympians from Red Beach club ranks
31st December 2011
 It’s a little known fact that there are nine Red Beach surf club members, past and present, who have competed at the Olympic Games.
All have represented New Zealand in kayaking, while Steven Ferguson has also represented his country in swimming. Ferguson, along with older brother Alan, was a member of the club’s JuniorSurf division for three seasons in the early-nineties. Those to have worn the Silver Fern are:
Don Cooper & John Leonard (both in 1976), Ian Ferguson (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992), Edwin Richards (1984), Stephen Richards & John MacDonald (1988, 1992), Mark Scheib (1992), Steven Ferguson (swimming 2000, kayaking 2004, 2008). Red Beach's very first female Olympian was Erin Taylor, above, who competed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. She joined the club's JuniorSurf ranks at the age of 12 and went on to become a top competitor in surf lifesaving.
Flashbacks …
6th June 2011
Series 19 … photographs from yesteryear.
1992 : Hayden Reece, winner of the NZ Ironman event at New Plymouth and a key competitor in Red Beach's winning the Allan Gardner Trophy that year. Reece was the last competitor from the Auckland region to win the Ironman at the Nationals until Red Beach's Chris Moors picked up the title in March 2011.
1967 : The Red Beach March Past team at a Muriwai surf carnival. The day included a competition between an Auckland team and a visiting USA team. Auckland won the event.
1981 : Above & below … the wreck of Red Beach’s Blue Bonnet surf boat in big surf during the Auckland Championships at Piha.
The Gallipoli 100
29th May 2011
Gallipoli landing by surf boat crews
 Surf boats will feature in the 100th anniversary of the famous landing on Gallipoli by the ANZAC’s.
To take place in April 2015, the Gallipoli 100 is a surf boat race involving 100 surf boats manned by Australian and New Zealand lifesavers. Surf boats are to be shipped to Turkey for the event which will feature 100 surf boat crews racing over a 100km distance with the location being the Dardanelles, Aegaen Sea and Gallipoli Peninsula. The crews will proceed to a beach near where the ANZAC’s landed 100 years before.
Back in 1915 there were many lifesavers and future lifesavers who fought at Gallipoli, however, a number of the pre-war lifesavers did not return home.
To check out the Gallipoli 100 website and watch a short video on the event, click here.
Boats land at ANZAC Cove in April 1915.
Flashbacks …
22nd November 2010
Series 18 … photographs from yesteryear.
March 1981: Every one an Iron Man! Two well-known father-son combinations … the Kennys of Australia and the Harkers of New Zealand, each one of them an Iron Man in surf lifesaving. From left ...
Hayden Kenny – Australia’s first national Iron Man champion when he won the title in 1966.
Grant Kenny – The first Australian to win both the Junior and Open Iron Man Championships at the same Australian Nationals. While in New Zealand in 1981, Grant also won the Senior and Junior Iron Man titles at New Plymouth.
Kim Harker – An Otago Iron Man representative at the 1981 Nationals at Oakura Beach.
Reg Harker – Regarded in surfing circles as the Iron Man of surf lifesaving in New Zealand during his era. Photo by Ross Malyon.
November 1972: The Red Beach surf boat crew of the day in its brand new “Schweppesmanship” craft, competing in a boat race from Muriwai to North Piha. The crew, from left: Jack Young, Colin Brady, Paul Ranby, Terry Marsh, Paul Von Zalinski.
Days after the event, the boat was signwritten and given an official launch at Westhaven by the Mayor of Auckland Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson on 14.11.72.
November 1972: Following the official launch ceremony, the crew of “Schweppesmanship” took the new boat for a row through the Westhaven breakwater.
January 1975: Red Beach club members who attended the Piha Lifeguard Training School held over four days, from left: Ted Taylor, Geoff Small, Ross Malyon. All are current Life Members of the Red Beach club; Geoff is also a Life Member of sister-club Collaroy in Australia.
Club Cap Colours
3rd August 2010
Click on the chart to enlarge it.
Flashbacks …
15th June 2010
Series 17 … photographs from yesteryear.
1973: Red Beach club members during a lighter moment at the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships, Oakura Beach, New Plymouth.
1976: NZ Championships, Paekakariki. Mandy Glover became Red Beach's first female competitor to win a National title. She was presented with a new rescue tube by Reg Harker for winning the open women's tube rescue event. Standing alongside her is the rescue 'patient' Carol Harker who also received a gold medal.
1982/83: A Red Beach surf boat crew competing on the west coast. The wearing of life jackets during racing was compulsory. Ted Taylor is sweeping the boat.
Flashbacks …
16th May 2010
Series 16 … photographs from yesteryear.
1958 Nationals: Red Beach’s March Past team at South Brighton Beach, Christchurch for the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships. Standing, from left: Fred Dennerly, Doug Ellis, Gary Chapman, Roy Woodall, Ross Warman, Tony Marsh, Graham Wolf, Paul Ranby. In front: Allan Anderson, Reg Harker.
NRC's Carnival 1980: Red Beach's U-18 Taplin relay team at Mt Maunganui. From left: Bryce Brown, Tony Olsen, John Alderman, Andrew Olsen, David Ross, Eamonn Murphy.
Clubrooms 1983: The Red Beach Surf Club just prior to its official opening in March 1983 by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. The sandy area became the tarsealed car park during the summer which followed.
Flashbacks …
4th August 2009
Series 15 … photographs from yesteryear.
1963 Nationals: The legendary Reg Harker heads off Maranui's Brian Crowder to win the final of the open men's surf race at the NZ Championships held at Westshore Beach, Napier in 1963. Harker was aged 25 at the time. Brian Crowder passed away June 2009. Photo from the Westshore SLSC collection.
Flashbacks …
18th June 2009
Series 14 … photographs from yesteryear.
1985 Touring Team: In December 1985, Red Beach sent a team of 16 junior lifeguards – all aged 14-18 years – on a 12-day tour to Queensland.
Primarily an educational visit, the team members were able to check out lifeguarding operations and compete against their counterparts on the Gold Coast.
Training for the team began in April 1985 with regular sessions at Red Beach and pool swimming at Auckland’s Tepid Baths.
Fundraising got under way at the same time to raise the $25,000 required to fully finance the tour.
The team managers were Geoff Small and Ted Taylor. The team was coached by Chris Gurr, Lance Richards and Paul Kayes.
The touring party was hosted by the Southport Surf Life Saving Club and used the Southport Nippers surf headquarters as their base and for accommodation.
Flashbacks …
10th June 2009
Series 13 … photographs from yesteryear.
November 1980: Red Beach Surf Club's original clubrooms in a dilapidated state, two years before the building was demolished. The premises were opened in 1959 and served as the club's headquarters for 24 years.
Early-December 1982: The old surf clubrooms just before the demolition team moved in.
7th December 1982: Demolition of the building is well under way. It was put out to tender and went for $1,800. The new clubrooms, nearing completion, can be seen in the background.
December 1982: A week prior to Christmas, the old surf club was completely gone. At left is the old toilet block which has since been replaced by a more modern convenience. Landscaping along the beachfront took place in the years that followed.
The land occupied by the old surf club is now the Red Beach Waterfront Reserve on which the Owen Chapman carnival prize giving has sometimes taken place.
Club’s first 50 years available on DVD
9th April 2009
 A DVD on the Red Beach Surf Club’s first 50 years is available for purchase.
This is the presentation which won acclaim when shown at the club’s 50th Jubilee celebration banquet in May 2003. It’s a memorable combination of film and photos spanning 50 great years of club activities and competition.
The response from people wanting to purchase the DVD as a keepsake resulted in good sales, to the point that remaining stocks are low and there won’t be a production repeat.
The DVD is now back on sale, available for the low price of $15.00 plus packing & postage. To print out an order form, click here.
Flashbacks …
10th March 2009
Series 12 … photographs from yesteryear.
1992: Winning the NZ Championships for the second time. Red Beach club members on Oakura Beach, New Plymouth after winning the prestigious Allan Gardner Trophy for overall points at the championships.
Early 1900's: Red Beach, surrounded by farmland, at the turn of the century. The leaning pohutukawa tree in the centre of the picture has become a Red Beach landmark and thrives to this day.
Flashbacks …
24th February 2009
Series 11 … photographs from yesteryear.
1991: Winning the NZ Championships for the first time. Red Beach club members on the dais at Midway Beach, Gisborne after winning the prestigious Allan Gardner Trophy for overall points at the championships.
1975: Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival at Red Beach. The legendary Reg Harker (centre) with son Kim and daughter Carol, limbering up before the start of the events.
Flashbacks …
5th February 2009
Series 10 … photographs from yesteryear.
1959: The opening of the Red Beach clubrooms. The building served as the surf club’s headquarters for 24 years before being demolished in 1983 when the club’s existing clubrooms were opened. This building was situated on the land which is now the Red Beach Waterfront Reserve.
1989: The Red Beach Masters March Past team competing in the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships at Mt Maunganui.
Flashbacks …
20th January 2009
Series 9 … photographs from yesteryear.
1976 : Red Beach club member Andrew Olsen receives the Cath & Eddie Millar Cup from cup donor Eddie Millar following the club's overall points win in 1976. The trophy was first contested in 1975.
1991 : 1st World Masters Surf Life Saving Championships. Red Beach Surf Club hosted this inaugural event which drew a very large turnout of New Zealand and overseas competitors for three days of masters competition.
Held from 29 November to 1 December 1991, it was an outstanding event conducted in fine, warm weather. Red Beach fielded the second largest team of competitors, 43 in total.
The organising committee was made up entirely of Red Beach club members and drew high praise for the event which is still talked about to this day. One of the highlights was the erection of a viewing stand capable of seating 600 people which extended out over the water. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Red Beach landmark
20th January 2009
The big leaning pohutukawa on Red Beach is one tree which has to be measured by its length rather than by its height.
If it hadn’t been for a stiff south easterly one January day in 1918, the old tree would be much taller today.
A man who lived at Red Beach probably longer than anyone else, the late Mr Stan Bayes, remembered the day the tree went over.
He and his older brother, Arthur, had been down at the beach watching Auckland holiday makers working on their boats. They left the beach just five minutes before the tree went over.
The Bayes family owned a farmhouse, which is still standing, and tended most of the land which is now in the Red Beach suburb.
When the boys returned to the beach from the house they were amazed to see the tree nearly on its side. The pohutukawa was then nearly 30 years old and it did not occur to anyone that it should be removed. Just as well.
Gradually over the years the tree, still bound by its roots to the bank, appeared to right itself by continuing to grow upward.
Stan Bayes regarded the tree as a great landmark and a really important part of the beachfront scene. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Flashbacks …
6th January 2009
Series 8 … photographs from yesteryear.
1988: Heron surf boat launch. The very first surf boat provided by Bryan Heron to the Red Beach Surf Club was given a champagne launch at Red Beach in October 1988. It was part of a sponsorship package from B H Heron Plumbing which included a new double ski, sponsored shirts and other club gear.
1988: 6-Man team. Red Beach's 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation drill team competing in a surf carnival at North Piha on Auckland's west coast in December 1988.
1914: Red Beach, surrounded by farmland, in a photo believed to have been taken around 1914.
Flashbacks …
29th December 2008
Series 7 … photographs from yesteryear.
1975: The launch of Red Beach Surf Club’s new surf canoe “Big Rooster” by Robert Muldoon, seated in the canoe, just days after he was elected Prime Minister of New Zealand in November 1975.
1957: Owen Chapman, the donor of the cup to foster surf lifesaving competition amongst the four Auckland east coast clubs of Red Beach, Orewa, Mairangi Bay and Eastern United who patrolled at Browns Bay.
The inaugural event was held in early-January 1957 to entertain the campers and holiday-makers from Pinewoods Motor Park. The Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival now spans more than 50 years.
To read the history of the Owen Chapman Cup, click here.
Late 1950’s: The 4-Man Alarm drill event being contested by a Red Beach team at an Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival. The spectators were holiday-makers from Pinewoods Motor Park and the surrounding areas.
Flashbacks …
22nd December 2008
Series 6 … photographs from yesteryear.
1958: NZ Championships, Christchurch. The fledgling Red Beach club, just five years old, was competing at the National Championships for the very first time. The venue was South Brighton and the club was there to compete in a number of events including the 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation drill event.
The sea conditions were turbulent and most event finals were cancelled. However, the 6-Man R & R final went ahead and Reg Harker, an outstanding surf swimmer, drew the marble to swim as the beltman. There was a massive rip running and it was very cold. Harker reached his buoy long before any of the other beltmen; two of the finalists did not make it to the buoys.
The time difference gave the Red Beach team a distinct advantage when converted into points. When all drill points were calculated, Red Beach emerged as the winner of surf lifesaving's blue riband event to take out the coveted Nelson Shield.
1958: NZ Championships, Christchurch. Red Beach's Reg Harker (right) has just completed a remarkable swim through turbulent seas to reach the marker buoys in the final of the 6-Man R & R event. He prepares to step out of his belt and hand it to reelman Graham Wolf.
1958: Red Beach's first New Zealand title. Winners of the Nelson Shield for the Senior 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation event at South Brighton, Christchurch.
Back row, from left: Graham Wolf, Ross Warman, Doug Ellis, Roy Woodall. Front row, from left: Allan Anderson, Toby Mitchell (Club President), George Perry (Coach), Reg Harker (Captain).
Footnote - The 6-Man R&R event has ceased to be a competition event in surf lifesaving. It's final appearance was at the NZ Championships in 2001.
Flashbacks …
1st December 2008
Series 5 … photographs from yesteryear.
1966: Club competitors from the 1965-66 season. Two of the group are current Life Members of Red Beach.
1976: Club members at Red Beach prior to a Paddlenduro fundraising stint which raised $5,000 towards the new surf clubrooms.
The surf canoe sponsors at the time were Big Rooster, Jerry Clayton Motors, Orewa Trust and Chrysler Outboards. During the mid-seventies, Red Beach was the dominant club in surf canoe racing with five open men's canoe crews.
1976: Millar Cup Winners. Red Beach Nipper members after winning the Cath & Eddie Millar cup in March 1976. Cherie Dillon, kneeling second from right, was one of the members.
Flashbacks …
18th November 2008
Series 4 … photographs from yesteryear.
1974 : The first female lifeguards. Although the Red Beach Surf Club was founded in 1953, female lifeguards were not part of the club until they were officially accepted as members in 1974.
Pictured above, six of the eight female members who obtained their Surf Medallions in 1974 to become fully qualified lifeguards with Red Beach. From left: Mandy Glover, Carolyn Hogan, Sally Glover, Ruth Mannall, Carol Harker, Carol-anne Clarke.
1950's: Owen Chapman Carnival. The Red Beach 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation team being judged during an Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival at Red Beach during the late 1950's.
1972: Surf boat launch. The club's new surf boat "Schweppesmanship" being given a lemonade launch by the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson, at a ceremony held at Westhaven on 14.11.72.
The crew, from left: Terry Marsh, Colin Brady, Paul Ranby, Jack Young, Paul Von Zalinski.
Flashbacks …
4th November 2008
Series 3 … photographs from yesteryear.
1973: The first Nipper members. At the start of the 1973/74 season, the Red Beach club introduced Nipper members to its ranks. Initially there were 20 boys aged from seven - 13 years with Gary Faircloth as their instructor.
At the time, the Red Beach Surf Club was an all-male domain. Female lifeguards were not part of the surf club until they were officially accepted as members by way of a change to the club’s constitution at the AGM in July 1974. The Nipper division was re-named the JuniorSurf division in later years.
1981: The demise of a surf boat. Red Beach's surf boat "Blue Bonnet" met with a tragic ending while being rowed at the Auckland Championships at Piha on Auckland's west coast. While charging down the face of a 5m wave and full of water, the boat decided it wanted to be a submarine and kept going until it met the sandy seabed.
The 'Auckland Star' evening newspaper ran the story and it was picked up by the Metropolitan Life Assurance Company who went on to donate a new surf boat to the Red Beach club. It was appropriately named "Metropolitan Life" and its launch coincided with the announcement of a $150,000 sponsorship of the Metropolitan Life Youth Programme. The sponsorship was to support the country's nine surf lifesaving districts with recruitment and training for Nippers.
Flashbacks …
28th October 2008
Series 2 … photographs from yesteryear.
1950’s Red Beach: The beachscape featured on a colour postcard.
1978: The start of the B H Heron sponsorship. Bryan Heron, standing at left, made a presentation of two rescue skis to Red Beach club captain John Glover while surrounded by some of the club’s Nipper members. Thus began a remarkable era of Heron sponsorship which flourishes to this day.
1972: Cyclone fury at Red Beach. In the aftermath of Cyclone Carlotta which struck the country in January 1972, waves pounded the Red Beach foreshore, forcing the lifeguard patrol to close the beach for the period of the high tide. Onlookers stood on the beachfront, watching the surging surf in awe.
The result of Cyclone Carlotta was a huge surf which formed 300m beyond the reef at Red Beach. The club’s surf boat crew launched “Miss Rothmans” and rowed out past the breakers. Rather than risk being smashed against the rocks while returning to the beach, the crew put into Stanmore Bay where the surf was much more subdued.
Flashbacks …
14th October 2008
We bring you our new pictorial series featuring photographs from yesteryear.
Series 1 … black & white pics from the archives.
1959: The opening of the Red Beach clubrooms. The building served as the surf club’s headquarters for 24 years before being demolished in 1983 when the club’s existing clubrooms were opened. This building was situated on the land which is now the Red Beach Waterfront Reserve.
1965: The legendary Reg Harker after winning the NZ Belt Race title for the first time. On the same weekend in Christchurch he also won the NZ Surf Race title to achieve the 'double', the most popular success among all lifeguards at the championships. He went on to claim the Belt Race title on four consecutive occasions and he won the Surf Race title four times.
Harker became known as the ‘iron man’ of surf lifesaving in New Zealand during the 1960’s because of his outstanding abilities in competition. He was made a Life Member of the Red Beach club in 1967 and currently lives with his wife Faye in Papamoa.
Red Beach, Peru
3rd September 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Peru, the third largest country in South America, is located on the continent’s west coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.
Paracas is a small fishing village 250km south of the capital of Lima, or three hours by road. It’s at the entrance to the Paracas National Reserve, one of the world’s most valuable and impressive coastal habitats. It’s where the desert and the sea come together in spectacular landscapes.
Red Beach is located on an astonishingly beautiful stretch of coast, surrounded by rugged cliffs, a desert and a lot of sand which make up the National Reserve. It is also known as La Playa Roja (the red beach) with the colour of the sand coming from the granite cliffs. The scenery is beautiful and it was in this rich area that ancient civilizations once flourished.
Paracas is a natural wildlife sanctuary and aquatic life flourishes on the coast. The winds, the sea temperature and other weather factors have created a habitat for more than 200 bird species along with marine life including sea lions, penguins, red and white flamingos and the visiting huge Andean Condor.
Paracas National Reserve also has huge sea lion colonies. Scores of sea lions can be seen lazily basking in the sun while condors and giant sea turtles ease their way through the water. Offshore are islands with a wide range of bird species including penguins, cormoranes, gulls, puffins and many others.
Red Beach, Komodo Island, Indonesia
4th July 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Among the thousands of small islands of Indonesia is one called Komodo, a mountainous stretch of volcanic rock covered with grass, palms and small pockets of jungle. The island, at 35km long, is part of Komodo National Park, 200 nautical miles to the east of Bali. The park is a World Heritage site and encompasses a number of islands, the largest of which are Komodo, Rinca and Padar. The region has around 4,000 inhabitants.
Red Beach, located on the eastern side of Komodo Island, is an exotic white sandy beach tinted pink by fragments of red coral. This popular anchorage is known for its beautiful underwater scenery which ranks it amongst the best in the world for snorkeling which is excellent over a healthy shallow reef. Diving is at the reef edge where the bottom drops down to 25 metres. Above the water, many wood carving and pearl jewellery entrepreneurs ply their wares by boat.
In the sea, the vibrant colours and exotic life enchant divers and snorkelers alike as endless schools of fish ride the waterways rushing up from deep sea vents. Below them the seabed is covered with a thick carpet of fluorescent corals and marine invertebrates - an underwater photographer’s paradise. The island, along with a few others nearby, is the sole habitat of the world’s largest lizard, known as the Komodo Island monitor or more popularly, the Komodo dragon. Red Beach is located just in front of the old dragon feeding station, directly across the bay from Komodo Village.
Komodo dragons can reach 3 metres in length and weigh up to 100kg. They are the top predators in their habitat and feed on wild boar, deer, water buffalo, dogs, goats, rats, snakes, smaller dragons, and once in a while – humans.
They hunt by ambush, hiding in the scrub brush along trails. Despite their lumbering appearance, they can move with alarming speed when they want to. They can’t sustain a long chase, but all they need to subdue their prey is one bite. The Komodo dragons carry poisonous bacteria in their mouths so if they don’t immediately catch their prey, the attack is often fatal. Using their long forked tongues, they track the scent of their prey as the wounded animal slowly weakens from the infected bite, a process that can take several days.
The Komodo dragon is an endangered species and there are approximately 6,000 in existence.
Red Beach, Crete
16th April 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
With its cobalt blue waters, sun-bleached cottages, ancient ruins and red sandstone cliffs, Crete's Red Beach is picturesque to say the least. It’s a famed 'clothing optional' beach located near Matala in the south of Crete, the largest of the Greek islands which lies approximately 160km south of the Greek mainland.
Made famous in 1968 when hippies from across Europe flocked to its shores, the resort at Red Beach has remained a favorite for its rustic charm and its tolerance.
Beautiful yet secluded, it can be reached only by water or on foot which involves a steep climb followed by a steep descent, in about half an hour from the village of Matala.
Red Beach takes its name from the ochre colour of the sand. While it doesn’t necessarily exude the same stunning red colors of Red Beach Santorini, it is indeed picturesque in its own right, set against golden hills and cliffs which provide a setting for some sparce, green vegetation.
Most often during the busier summer months, you can rent shade umbrellas and beach lounging chairs, but at times there are no rentals and it’s just you, your towel and whatever else you bring.
Matala View, on the hill above Red Beach, looking towards Matala Village. The ascent is steep but the view is worth the trouble and the effort. The tricky hike down to Red Beach affords some sweeping sights of the beach and the water, set against the coast’s cliffs.
At the north side of the beach the rocks are carved into ancient Minoan and Egyptian shapes, carried out a number of years ago by a Belgian man by the name of Gerard.
Red Beach Crete is primarily known for its affiliation as a 'clothing optional' beach. Predominantly, this section of the beach is kept at the northern side, however there is no strict rule against straying from this section without covering yourself.
But, do not think that you have to strip to enjoy Red Beach Crete as there is ample tolerance for all.
Red Beach, Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
3rd March 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Red Beach, also known as Playa Caracas or Playa del Corcho is one of the best-loved beaches on the small lush island of Vieques, 6 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. The beach is a long stretch of powdery white sand, leading into the crystal-clear Caribbean water that turns shades of turquoise and green as it gets deeper.
Vieques Island was once the site of a large US Navy base. It found its freedom in 2003 when the Navy pulled out, creating conservation land where the bases once stood, and the island is just beginning to get its ‘tourism legs’.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States and the Navy used Red Beach for recreation before they left, whiling away the time on this stunning beach with soft sand and even softer water.
Snorkeling here is excellent. You won’t get the variety of colours that a coral reef or rocky pier would afford but you will see stingrays, schools of smaller fish and possibly even a dolphin if you go out far enough.
The beach is framed by gently rolling green hills in the near distance. A number of small uninhabited islands and outcroppings can be seen not too far offshore. But while you’re on the beach you can pamper your feet on the soft white sand, get the perfect tan and enjoy life the Caribbean way.
Red Beach, Rio
6th February 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues ...
Praia Vermelha (Red Beach) wins over the tourists with its exotic, luxuriant and strange glamour. Surrounded by coconut and bamboo trees, this place is just another charming oasis of peace and calm in Rio de Janeiro, blessed with cacti, orchids, bromeliads and grassy bushes.
Praia Vermelha, known for its steeply sloping sands, is well sheltered at the foot of the Urca hill. It is found in a predominantly residential neighbourhood with an intimate small-town atmosphere. Boating is popular here.
The beach offers a stunning view of the Sugar Loaf mountain, named for its shape, which rises 396m above sea level. It offers a breathtaking panorama of Rio’s majestic beauty, with built-up areas nestled between magnificent bays and dazzling beaches on one side and abruptly rising mountains from the water, on the other side, in Guanabara Bay.
Red Beach, Greece
24th January 2008
Our new pictorial beach series on Red Beach locations around the world …
Red Beach, found on the Greek island of Santorini, is a mesmerizing stretch of red sand that is set against a stunning backdrop of scaling red cliffs. As if Santorini weren’t beautiful enough, with its volcanic landscape and picturesque caldera, Red Beach adds the extra touch that helps to make the island one of the most desired tourist destinations in the Aegean Sea.
The crystal-clear blue waters contrast the stunning red-coloured sands, all set against a prolific cliff background.
Located on the southern coast of Santorini in the area named Akrotiri, Red Beach is truly majestic and you would be hard-pressed to find a beach anywhere in the world that mixes such a color scheme. Often busy during the peak summer months, beachgoers to Red Beach Santorini may find it a bit crowded, especially due to the fact that the close proximity of the cliffs to the water leaves a fairly thin strip of beach.
Some who visit Red Beach Santorini merely park the car and stand atop the cliffs for a view down, but it is worth it to make the trek down to get the full experience. The beach can also be accessed by boat from the port of Akrotiri and the port at Fira. The sun can be very strong here, and the sand is not the most comfortable to sit on, thus many choose to bask under shade umbrellas and beach lounging chairs. Nearby there are taverns and eateries offering meals and snacks.
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