Hey there.
I will be heading to NZ in a couple of weeks bringing my kitesurfing gear to do the eventual sneaky sesh while driving around.
Wondering whether anyone can provide a link with a good list of common kitesurfing spots or useful Facebook groups to figure out the best (and safe) spots.
Is this the best online resource out there for wind/weather in NZ?
www.metservice.com/marine-surf/
Thanks!
I like swell map
www.swellmap.co.nz/surfing/new-zealand/fitzroy-beach
Windy is good to get a handle on wind on a larger scale
www.windy.com/?-41.780,172.266,6
What type of riding are you looking to do?
webcams and live wind auckland region www.windsurf.co.nz/
northern, primarily, kitespots www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=12CJx2eJ2h2Xdc2S6QlhFrluEdZs&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=-36.765292,174.703217&spn=0.385047,0.995636&t=h&z=10&source=embed&dg=feature
south island info www.kiwikitedreams.com/south-island/
facecrack stuff www.facebook.com/groups/115325528485030/
weather www.marineweather.co.nz
most of use use multiple weather sites; it changes so often and is rather dependent on where the sensors are in relation to kite spots.....
have fun!!
Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......
Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).
If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.
The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.
Enjoy!
Thanks all for the info and links. Very useful.
Yeah, I will be driving mostly on the north half of the South Island for a week.Select to expand quoteChris_M said..
Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......
Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).
If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.
The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.
Enjoy!
That Tahuna beach sounds like a good place to stop (there is even a campground around to stop).
Since you seems to know the area well, what would be my best bet for kite size? I will bring a 133cm twintip and I can choose from 8m,10 and 12m kites. What do you think? The 10m Pivot works good for me from ~18knots to ~22knots.
Thanks!
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
I like swell map
www.swellmap.co.nz/surfing/new-zealand/fitzroy-beach
Windy is good to get a handle on wind on a larger scale
www.windy.com/?-41.780,172.266,6
What type of riding are you looking to do?
Thanks for the info.
I normally go out on the waves but this time I will be bringing a twintip with me mainly for logistic reasons :)
Select to expand quotehebbo said..
Thanks all for the info and links. Very useful.
Yeah, I will be driving mostly on the north half of the South Island for a week.Chris_M said..
Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......
Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).
If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.
The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.
Enjoy!
That Tahuna beach sounds like a good place to stop (there is even a campground around to stop).
Since you seems to know the area well, what would be my best bet for kite size? I will bring a 133cm twintip and I can choose from 8m,10 and 12m kites. What do you think? The 10m Pivot works good for me from ~18knots to ~22knots.
Thanks!
I had my bases covered with a 9 and a 12m (100kg and 135x41 twinny) although occasionally when a good SW comes in I would have liked an 8m.
Take all your kites! If you need to borrow kites you could go see Warren (kitescool). He is a pretty chill dude and if he knows you know what you are doing kite-wise he could be keen to rent you a big one (14 or 16m) if you need on a lighter wind day, but you'd have to approach it right, because he's not a rental, just a good fella I used to work for.
If you need a good pub to check out, go to the Sprig and Fern (there are a few of these around the place). 22 different kinds of craft beer on tap, and a nice clientele of 25yr olds + with a good social vibe and no doof doof music. A good place to meet travellers and locals alike.
Nelson sucks for wind. Take a monster kite and baord, Usually they have ****ty pissant seabreezes,
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
Nelson sucks for wind. Take a monster kite and baord, Usually they have ****ty pissant seabreezes,
Can have times of light winds like anywhere, but you just sound like you have a chip on your shoulder buddy
Probably gonna start banging on about why taranaki is the best place in the world again. We get it. Your town has cheap meth.
Nelson often gets 15 knot sea breezes at this time of year. I suspect this year is one of those with the big blocking High. Souwesters are good too. The westerly and norwesterly seldom gets over the mountains.
The west coast can be very good and at times extreme, either around Golden Bay or via Westport. Check out Cape Foulwind south of Westport, lots of options depending on wind direction. Captain Cook had good reason for calling it that, it can get stupidly windy. I don't think we will see too many westerlies this Xmas though, La Ni?a seems to have kicked in already.
Select to expand quoteChris_M said..Plummet said..
Nelson sucks for wind. Take a monster kite and baord, Usually they have ****ty pissant seabreezes,
Can have times of light winds like anywhere, but you just sound like you have a chip on your shoulder buddy
Probably gonna start banging on about why taranaki is the best place in the world again. We get it. Your town has cheap meth.
No chip on my shoulder. Just a gutless wind location typically hidden from the prevailing westerly,
But it is picturesk as f@ck.
Jesus Cauncy. What has been seen cannot be unseen!
I need some eye bleach to remove that image from my mind
www.eyebleach.me/babes/
Select to expand quoteChris_M said..hebbo said..
Thanks all for the info and links. Very useful.
Yeah, I will be driving mostly on the north half of the South Island for a week.Chris_M said..
Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......
Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).
If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.
The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.
Enjoy!
That Tahuna beach sounds like a good place to stop (there is even a campground around to stop).
Since you seems to know the area well, what would be my best bet for kite size? I will bring a 133cm twintip and I can choose from 8m,10 and 12m kites. What do you think? The 10m Pivot works good for me from ~18knots to ~22knots.
Thanks!
I had my bases covered with a 9 and a 12m (100kg and 135x41 twinny) although occasionally when a good SW comes in I would have liked an 8m.
Take all your kites! If you need to borrow kites you could go see Warren (kitescool). He is a pretty chill dude and if he knows you know what you are doing kite-wise he could be keen to rent you a big one (14 or 16m) if you need on a lighter wind day, but you'd have to approach it right, because he's not a rental, just a good fella I used to work for.
If you need a good pub to check out, go to the Sprig and Fern (there are a few of these around the place). 22 different kinds of craft beer on tap, and a nice clientele of 25yr olds + with a good social vibe and no doof doof music. A good place to meet travellers and locals alike.
Cool thanks! Will pop in @ kitescool and Sprig and Fern then. Seems like I may be fine on my 10m. If the wind is lighter than 18knots I probably should be doing something else while in NZ, shouldn't I? :)
Select to expand quotesimonp said..
Nelson often gets 15 knot sea breezes at this time of year. I suspect this year is one of those with the big blocking High. Souwesters are good too. The westerly and norwesterly seldom gets over the mountains.
The west coast can be very good and at times extreme, either around Golden Bay or via Westport. Check out Cape Foulwind south of Westport, lots of options depending on wind direction. Captain Cook had good reason for calling it that, it can get stupidly windy. I don't think we will see too many westerlies this Xmas though, La Ni?a seems to have kicked in already.
Westport looks good. Heard the wind can get a bit nuts on the west but may have a look around and see. Thanks for the info!
Select to expand quotehebbo said..Chris_M said..hebbo said..
Thanks all for the info and links. Very useful.
Yeah, I will be driving mostly on the north half of the South Island for a week.Chris_M said..
Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......
Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).
If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.
The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.
Enjoy!
That Tahuna beach sounds like a good place to stop (there is even a campground around to stop).
Since you seems to know the area well, what would be my best bet for kite size? I will bring a 133cm twintip and I can choose from 8m,10 and 12m kites. What do you think? The 10m Pivot works good for me from ~18knots to ~22knots.
Thanks!
I had my bases covered with a 9 and a 12m (100kg and 135x41 twinny) although occasionally when a good SW comes in I would have liked an 8m.
Take all your kites! If you need to borrow kites you could go see Warren (kitescool). He is a pretty chill dude and if he knows you know what you are doing kite-wise he could be keen to rent you a big one (14 or 16m) if you need on a lighter wind day, but you'd have to approach it right, because he's not a rental, just a good fella I used to work for.
If you need a good pub to check out, go to the Sprig and Fern (there are a few of these around the place). 22 different kinds of craft beer on tap, and a nice clientele of 25yr olds + with a good social vibe and no doof doof music. A good place to meet travellers and locals alike.
Cool thanks! Will pop in @ kitescool and Sprig and Fern then. Seems like I may be fine on my 10m. If the wind is lighter than 18knots I probably should be doing something else while in NZ, shouldn't I? :)
If you can get the blind channel at the end of tahuna beach on the outgoing tide you can get going in some pretty light winds, but beware - it's known for taking your board out into the middle of tasman bay if you stuff it up!
Have a great time, post some pics, I'm homesick!
Hey mate,
I lived in Nelson last summer for a few months. It's one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen!!! Nelson has a good kiting scene and two schools (Kitesurf Nelson also has a coffee shop not far from the beach).
Tahuna(nui) back beach is the go as has been said. When I was there it was either cranking or barely enough to ride but if you get a good northerly and the right tide it's heaven!
I found the channel is very tide dependent...as soon as the tide gets too high it gets choppy AF. Also, if you have the tide going the same direction as the wind, it turns 20 knots into 12 (can also work the other way round though which is great).
There is also some spots further up the Abel Tasman and Golden Bay that look ridiculously good but you need the perfect direction to ride them.
If there is no wind, rent a sea kayak in Kaiteriteri and paddle around the Abel Tasman...it's soooo beautiful.
Select to expand quoteChris_M said..hebbo said..Chris_M said..hebbo said..
Thanks all for the info and links. Very useful.
Yeah, I will be driving mostly on the north half of the South Island for a week.Chris_M said..
Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......
Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).
If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.
The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.
Enjoy!
That Tahuna beach sounds like a good place to stop (there is even a campground around to stop).
Since you seems to know the area well, what would be my best bet for kite size? I will bring a 133cm twintip and I can choose from 8m,10 and 12m kites. What do you think? The 10m Pivot works good for me from ~18knots to ~22knots.
Thanks!
I had my bases covered with a 9 and a 12m (100kg and 135x41 twinny) although occasionally when a good SW comes in I would have liked an 8m.
Take all your kites! If you need to borrow kites you could go see Warren (kitescool). He is a pretty chill dude and if he knows you know what you are doing kite-wise he could be keen to rent you a big one (14 or 16m) if you need on a lighter wind day, but you'd have to approach it right, because he's not a rental, just a good fella I used to work for.
If you need a good pub to check out, go to the Sprig and Fern (there are a few of these around the place). 22 different kinds of craft beer on tap, and a nice clientele of 25yr olds + with a good social vibe and no doof doof music. A good place to meet travellers and locals alike.
Cool thanks! Will pop in @ kitescool and Sprig and Fern then. Seems like I may be fine on my 10m. If the wind is lighter than 18knots I probably should be doing something else while in NZ, shouldn't I? :)
If you can get the blind channel at the end of tahuna beach on the outgoing tide you can get going in some pretty light winds, but beware - it's known for taking your board out into the middle of tasman bay if you stuff it up!
Have a great time, post some pics, I'm homesick!
Here you go mate
feel better now
