Butterbox surf guide
Surf: Such is the angle of Long Reef headland that this reef shelf is directly offshore in the constant summer NE winds. Unfortunately, it only breaks on moderate swells with some S, so is more likely to break in winter. When it does, it's a nice sucky take-off into a long wall that can have some wedgy sections, punishing those too deep and inviting the shoulder-hoppers to get the outside sets. Fickle and changeable, low is the go, which brings the weed-covered reef into sharp relief. On the other side of the jutting headland reef is Little Makaha, a seemingly sweet righthand set-up which never quite delivers the goods. Oyster and barnacle covered rocks make it less appealing. The real gem on this headland is undoubtedly White Rock, a rearing, bucking peak that chucks then races left straight towards the exposed rock shelf. The rights are a drop to nothing, and outside, the larger but less demanding lefts of Cungi beckon. Low tide, S wind and strong E-S swell.
Environment: Butterbox handles a crowd better than the tiny take-off area at White Rock. Skilled surfers only on their best behaviour.