A surfboard lost at sea in Tasmania has been found nearly 18 months later, all the way in New Zealand.
The board, which belonged to an Australian surfer named Liam, drifted over 2,400 kilometres across the Tasman Sea before washing up on New Zealand’s North Island.
French kitesurfer Alvaro Bon discovered the barnacle-covered board in Raglan Harbour, a well-known surfing spot. Bon, who has lived in New Zealand for ten years, spotted the board after letting go of his own kite during strong currents. He took shelter in a quiet part of the harbour and noticed the 7ft 6in cream-coloured board in the water.
Surprisingly, the board was undamaged, though covered in mussels and barnacles. Bon hid it in nearby sand dunes and returned later to collect it. After cleaning it up, he shared photos of it in online surfing groups, hoping to find its owner. The board’s unique design helped someone recognise it, and soon Bon was in touch with Liam, the original owner.
Liam had lost the board when it was blown off a boat in May 2024. He was amazed to learn it had survived such a long journey across the sea. Since the surfboard was custom-made and could not be replaced, getting it back was very special.
This week, a friend of Liam’s will collect the board in Auckland and bring it home to Australia. Bon said the experience felt meaningful. “Maybe that’s the meaning… sometimes you need to let go of some stuff to find better,” he said.
