Real Surf

Having built surfboards for more than 30 years, Roger Titcombe certainly knows what he’s doing, and his beloved Real Surf is built on a lifetime in the water and on the tools. This is surfing in its purest form: no fluff, no trends, just an intimate knowledge of and appreciation for what works on the waves.

Step inside and it’s a sensory overload in the best way. Surfboards hang everywhere - hundreds of them - stacked wall to wall and stretching from floor to ceiling. Some are fresh off the rack and ready to ride, others sit higher up like artefacts, charting the evolution of board design from the 1960s through to now. The fitout is entirely DIY, shaped and refined over time - much like the boards themselves. It gives the space a relaxed, slightly chaotic energy, where every corner tells a story and nothing feels overly polished.

This is truly a one-stop shop for any surfing enthusiast. Surfboards, wetsuits, hardware, repairs and rentals: everything you need, and nothing you don’t. The team are all surfers themselves, deeply embedded in the local scene and able to offer advice that comes from experience, not a sales script. It’s this grounding in the community, paired with decades of craft and knowledge, that makes Real Surf more than just a shop; it’s a cornerstone of Wellington’s surf culture.

That sense of history runs deep. Roger has been building boards since the early 60s, starting out in his dad’s shed before going on to launch Goodtime Surfboards in 1971. The move to Lyall Bay in 2000 brought with it its current name, and a continuation of the same ethos: keep it local and keep it real.