Lifeguards start patrolling Northland's surf beaches

Volunteer lifeguards Alyssa Flannagan, Jack Boakes, Jamie Lymburn, Daniel Olsen, Caleb Anderson and Toby Hudson at Waipū Cove.

You know summer's coming when the surf lifeguards start patrolling Northland's surf beaches.

And the surf lifesaving season officially started on Saturday when volunteer lifeguards begin patrolling five beaches across the region.

Volunteer lifeguards will be on duty on weekends across the region until Easter to 2019.

The beaches patrolled by the volunteers are Ocean Beach at Whangārei Heads, Ruakaka,
Waipū, Mangawhai and Ahipara.

Making the most of the holidays at Ocean Beach are Hunter Pope, 5, Cassius Sims, 8, Luella Pope, 7, Silas Sims, 10 and Zadie Pope.

All five beaches, along with Baylys Beach, will be patrolled during the week by professional lifeguards from the Christmas holidays through to the end of Auckland's Anniversary weekend.

Matapouri Beach has been patrolled in some previous years, but will not be this summer.

Arlo, 6, Leo,2, and Leroy, 9, Inness ready to hit the water at Ocean Beach.

Northern Advocate photographer Tania Whyte went to Waipu and Ocean Beach to set he start of the surf life saving season

Volenteer lifesavers at Whangārei Heads , fromn left, Tyla Kean, Temiko Esser, Leo Forshaw and Josh Maxwell ready to patrol Ocean Beach yesterday

Alexander Sutherland,6, being towed through the shallows of the Waipū River.

Alissa Crosby, 6, is loving being in the Waipū Cove water.

Charlie Vincent,7, and Antonia Scaramella, 12 build sandcastles in the rising tide's way at Waipū Cove on Saturday.

Waipū Cove volunteer Megan Vercoe keeps an eye on the north end of the beach.

Waipū Cove volunteer lifeguards Tyler Flannigan and Bailey Hudson with the IRB at the start of surf patrols on Northland beaches.