Myself and other half are doing windsurfing trip down the east coast of Australia.
We have 8 weeks to go from Melbourne to Cairns and back down the coast. For us this is the once in a lifetime trip before we grow some grommets.
What we're looking for is great windsurfing spots in QLD. We're looking for flat water which is fairly safe and has caravan parks nearby.
We've already windsurfed at Calloundra and we'll be back there again.
We're also hoping that we can meet up with other windsurfers along the way.
I hope you can help as this will form the basis of our trip.
alva beach via Ayr north queensland about 80klm south of townsville. haven't been for well over 10 years but was good flat water at low tide and good jumping on the incomming tide.
used to be able to stay in the lifesavers club house by prior arrangement, worth a look if you don't mind sailing alone, not many locals, more there if good se blowing most came down from townsville.
anyone from Nth Qld still sail there
Ok in Cairns we sail at Yorkies, generally rough water but no waves, closest caravan park is Lake Placid (10min) which is a very nice spot and a good base for the tourist stuff.
Tinaroo Dam on the tableland (up the hill) has a caravan park and flat choppy water and gusty wind.
Green Island (day trip) has very flat water at low tide but very choppy at high tide and strong wind.
Kurrimine Beach has 2 caravan parks and good flat protected water.
I know Townsville has local crew but I haven't sailed there.
And Alva Beach as Lungs suggested, also has a caravan park. I also haven't sailed there in years.
PM me before you leave and I'll send phone number. Ask advise before doing Green Island and I'll help
If you like flat water go to Burrum Heads, awesome at low tide with great locals, has a couple of caravan parks from memory
Green Island
Burrum Heads
It depends to an extent on teh tiem of year.
The FNQ spots the guys have mentioned are very good through winter, as I understand it.
Places like Burrum Heads and Elliott Heads, near Bundaberg are better in autumn.
Elliott Hds is another white sandy river estuary, with a wide expanse of flat water at most tides and is open to the steady, often strong south-easterly trade winds.
It's easy to sail out the front to play in some nice waves there too, and is a great spot to learn and develop tyour skills. There is a caravan park right at the river mouth, which is nice. It's very popular at Easter, and fills up with windsurfers and kites-boarders.
I hadn't been there for a few years, until last Easter, and was dismayed to see just how much sand intrusion there is there now, which has spoiled it a bit, but it is still a great spot.
It's probably better out the front now, on both a northerly and southerly, but since you want flat water, it's really only suited to southerlies in the river. You can sail a nor-wester there in the spring, but the nor-easter don't work well in the river. Great out the front though.
Boreen Point at Lake Cootharaba just north of Noosa is a great place for sailboarding. From memory has two caravan parks both on the lake. Gets good wind from SE to NE, only about 2m at the deepest so safe as. Quite a few kms across so plenty of space.
Enjoy your trip!
if your going to be sailing in nth qld between now and the end of april/early may a stinger suit would be a good investment(or full length wet suit)as the box jellys and irrikanji ( spelling)pack a stronger punch than the blue bottles down here, having a bottle of vinegar in your bag is also a good idea(to poor on stings)
I think they come down as far as rocky, definityly in Mackay and places north.
Cheers Peoples,
We'll be up there September - October.
Now all I have to do is plot these on google maps and go from there.
Anyone know of any further down the coast?
October can be a poop month in FNQ for wind but great for reef trips (diving etc), although 2 years ago it was the best month of the year for wind, go figure
Last year was a terrible year for sailing, I have high hopes for this year but nothings happening yet