Getting here

Getting to Sumner from Christchurch city takes about 20 minutes by car. An Uber / Taxi will sting you at least $60 but you can easily jump on one of the Purple line buses that runs all the way from Christchurch Airport, through the city and out to Sumner. Be mindful that the last bus from Sumner heading back to the city leaves by 11pm.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access to the Mingle contest site is found at the corner of The Esplanade and Burgess st, Sumner. Hollywood cinema, LeStrange Gallery, Sumner Surf Life Saving Club, Sumner Community Centre all have wheelchair access.  

Accommodation

There are a handful of bed and breakfasts (click here to explore) and numerous Air BnB’s in walking distance to Sumner village. Once these have booked up you’ll find Air BnBs a few minutes drive away in the Sumner hills and neighboring suburbs - Redcliffs and Lyttelton.

Another cheap and popular option for Mingler is to rent a campervan for your trip. Freedom camping is not technically permitted in Sumner - however many Minglers stay nearby and have no worries.

Some cheap van rental companies include:

https://www.jucy.com/au/en/campervans/nz-locations/christchurch-airport/

https://www.wickedcampers.co.nz/our-vehicles

And for bigger more practical vans check out:

https://indiecampers.com/

https://www.wilderness.co.nz/locations/christchurch

Visa

International travellers must complete an NZ electronic visa. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and be issued and cost $58 NZD.

https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz

Log Travel

Yes we know - travelling with logs really blows! It's getting harder and harder to travel with our beloved boards and we can't make any promises that it will be smooth sailing getting your stick to Sumner. Please do your own research with airlines ect before flying but the below info may help.

Flying within NZ: Both Air New Zealand and Jetstar maximum length for domestic flights within NZ is 2.5m (8.2 ft) or less. Therefore if your flying domestically within NZ you need to arrange to have your board sent as freight prior to your flight.

https://www.airnewzealandcargo.com/national-cargo-contacts

Alternatively: Over the past few years many of our North Island Minglers have been road tripping down and couriering other attendees boards for a reasonable fee. https://www.roofspace.co.nz/ is a service that facilitates this process.

Flying internationally

Remember you want to fly into Christchurch airport - this is 30 mins from Sumner village / Mingle HQ. From our experience we've had trouble with people getting their boards onto flights when they are leaving a smaller airport (e/g like the Gold Coast) but from larger international airports like Brisbane and Sydney there has been less issues.

Virgin

This was the go to airline pre covid as they happily carried longboards on the majority of their flights (except routes that were operated by another carrier) . However, they are yet to restart their flights to Christchurch but these may return soon…

Emirates

https://www.emirates.com/au/english/before-you-fly/baggage/unusual-baggage-and-special-allowances/

The total dimensions (length + width + height) of the entire division of sporting equipment must not exceed 300cm (118 inches). Any sporting equipment with total dimensions exceeding 300cm (118 inches) cannot be transported as checked baggage and must be sent as cargo or freight.

According to this it means that essentially over 9'1 would have to be sent as cargo. However, the majority of our Minglers that have flown with 9 ‘ 4 - 9’9 have been fine. Worth telling the staff your board is 2.77m though and try and avoid them getting a measuring tape out (this is same deal for Qantas and Jetstar).

Qantas

Boards will only be accepted if they’re enclosed in a surfboard bag that doesn’t exceed 70lb (32kg) in weight, and 109in (277cm) in length.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/sporting-equipment.html#surfboard-or-surf-ski

Jetstar

Need to purchase sporting equipment / oversize baggage and provide your on a Boeing 787 (which is most flights from Bris / SYD you can take 2.77M (9ft) on from our experiences - Minglers have been ok getting 9'6''s on.

https://www.jetstar.com/nz/en/flights/baggage

Air NZ

Won't take over 2.5m anymore and need to be shipped as cargo.

Fiji Airways

2.77m max + fee - $150 we’ve heard.

Others - Let us know how you go.

https://www.wavetribe.com/blogs/surf-travel/surfboard-airline-fees#surfer-friendly-airlines

Rent or borrow

If all looks too much of a mission you can rent a decent log from

: https://sadhanasurfboards.co.nz/hire-demo

If all else fails just get to the event, Mingle and be cool - someone will lend you a board.

2020: Online edition
Stephanie Schechter (California, USA)
The Lochhead Fam (Wollongong, Australia)
2020: Joe Piccalo (Sumner, Christchurch)
2021: Allie Ree’s (Sumner, Christchurch)
2022: Joe Piccalo (Sumner, Christchurch)

Map of Sumner

opening ceremony, Film festival & closing ceremony

Sumner Surf Life Saving Club - (Thursday Night)

301 Main Road, Sumner Beach, Christchurch 8081

surfing competition

Corner of Sumner Esplanade and Stoke St - (Fri - Sun daytime)

Sumner Beach, Canterbury 8081

Mingle in the village

Clink Bar and Restaurant, The Village Inn Sumner, Bonobo, Sumner Social - (Friday Night)

Sumner Village, Canterbury 8081

The SFM Street party

Sumner Village - (Saturday Night)

Corner of Wakefield Ave & Nayland St, Sumner Village, Christchurch 8081

SFM afterparty

TBC - (Saturday Night)

TBC

Participate

Wondering how you surf, play, paint or sponsor this wonderful festival? We’d love to hear from you!

SURF

The Single Fin Mingle is an invitational competition. We aim to host not only NZ’s most prestigious surfing contest but an event that shows truly world-class longboarding.  Due to the limited time we have to run the contest, there are a lot of amazing surfers who miss out on getting spots. So how do you get one of these elusive invitations?  Make a great video that showcases your surfing talents, stand out at other longboard events, have another Mingle competitor endorse you, come party be a legend, shred your local beach day in and day out!   

MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS

We approach people and acts we think will be a perfect match for our party. But please if you think you’ve got that perfect sound, picture or film - drop us a line. 

STAFF

Running an event is hard mahi but it sure is rewarding. We are a small tight-knit team that has some amazing people that make the event happen. We’d love to hear from you if you think you can add to what we do in a positive way. 

SPONSOR

The SFM is unlike any other event on New Zealand’s festival scene. A totally unique event it can’t be pigeonholed into simply music, art, or sport, it is a genuine amalgamation of NZ's finest culture. With a loyal following here in NZ, Australia and around the world, the SFM can offer an opportunity you won’t find anywhere else, regardless of scale: an authentic engaged audience who are proven to be dedicated to the brand.

Want to Volunteer?

SIGN UP HERE

• An exclusive SFM volunteer crew t-shirt.

• Complimentary lunch & coffee on the days of your shift at the Beach site, and a meal voucher if rostered onto the Street Party.

• Free ticket to the event of your choosing - Thursdays Film Festival OR Fridays Mingle in the Village OR Saturdays Street Party OR Saturdays After Party

• An invitation to attend the SFM Volunteer whanau dinner on Wednesday
  3rd April

• The opportunity to work on a globally renowned festival in an amazing environment with one of the best groups of humans you will ever meet.