Core Surf Scene in Aotearoa, Dylan Graves’ South Island Trip

Dylan Graves’ recent YouTube edit captures a raw South Island surf trip: cold water, lengthy drives between breaks, a youthful local crew, and close encounters with wildlife. The footage reads like a field guide to surfing New Zealand’s southern edge: cinematic, uncompromising, and grounded in local know-how.

Watch the full edit below, the video is the primary source for this piece.

The trip in brief

The edit shows a compact crew chasing windows of swell along the South Island coastline. Expect the unexpected: water is cold, conditions can flip quickly, and viable breaks are often hours apart. The sense of travel — long drives, scouting, timing tides — is central to the story here.

As seen in the video:
– A local guide is shown working with the crew; he’s identified in the footage as Damian “Dooma” Phillips. This identification appears in social clips and tags around the trip but should be independently verified via local profiles/community sources before attribution beyond this report.
– A group of younger local surfers ride with the crew, illustrating a strong grassroots surf scene on the island.

Conditions, logistics and what the footage shows

Cold water is a constant in the South Island edits — expect thicker thermal protection and pragmatic planning. The geography means drives between surfable spots can be long; three-hour legs between locations are plausible and visible in the edit’s road sequences.

The film highlights the practical side of Kiwi trips: scouting from the van, quick adjustments when a window opens, and leaning on local knowledge to read fickle South Island breaks.

Wildlife and culture on the shore

The video includes shots of local wildlife — New Zealand sea lions and penguins appear in shore sequences. These encounters are part of the South Island surf experience; the footage underscores the need for respectful distance and responsible behavior around animals.

The edit also nods to Aotearoa’s cultural context. The term “mahi” (work, effort) is used in the video’s cultural framing — a small but meaningful reminder of the Māori language and influence across coastal communities.

Practical takeaways for surfers planning a South Island trip

• Plan for cold water: the footage reinforces that thermal protection and packing for chilly conditions are non-negotiable.
• Give extra time for travel: scouting and driving are a big part of finding surfable windows.
• Respect wildlife and leave space — the video shows close shoreline wildlife; protocol and conservation matter.
• Lean on locals: the edit demonstrates how local guides and youth crews unlock quality waves in short windows. If you rely on a named guide, verify identity and credentials via social profiles or local surf organizations before booking.
• Read culture: the presence of Māori language and local place-based references in the edit is a reminder to approach surf in Aotearoa with cultural awareness and respect.

Why this edit matters

Beyond surf porn, Dylan Graves’ South Island piece is a snapshot of modern Kiwi surf culture: young locals, raw conditions, and the grind of chasing surf in a remote, wildlife-rich landscape. The edit is useful for anyone planning a trip who wants an honest sense of what surf in the southern reaches of New Zealand feels like.