Forums > Kitesurfing General

New Zealand North Island - good wave kite spots?

Reply
Created by DutchRooster > 9 months ago, 29 Oct 2018
DutchRooster
NSW, 325 posts
29 Oct 2018 12:59PM
Thumbs Up

Does anyone have any good advise for the better (wave) kitesurf spots around the North Island? Just booked 2 weeks, 2 RVs in January and now trying to figure out what route we should take. Family coming along so it wont be 100% kitesurf focused - will need to do some sightseeing along the way so also any advice on what we have to see is welcome!

Thanks

Plummet
4862 posts
29 Oct 2018 12:43PM
Thumbs Up

January isn't the best time for waves. Usually they are smaller with less frontal driven swell.

That said. Prevailing wind is Westerly. Your best bet for the best waves will be the west coast. The best waves on the west coast is in Raglan and Taranaki. Taranaki works from ne to SE, but is best W, WSW and SE.

However some times in January there are easterly driven tropical systems. Then you will want yo look on the east coast!
Hopefully someone else will chime in on east coast spots.

Gilly3
QLD, 794 posts
30 Oct 2018 6:13AM
Thumbs Up

On the east coast try:
Orewa Beach, Auckland
Waihi Beach, Waihi
Mt Maunganui
For a bit of flat water fun around the mount, Ferguson Park, Otumoetai ( make sure you walk the mount)

The scenery on the north island will take your breath away, as for the weather....Good Luck!

Oh, also recommend white water rafting on the kaituna river near Rotorua, only 7m drop around I think....Cheers

bjw
NSW, 3568 posts
30 Oct 2018 11:15AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
DutchRooster said..
North Island?



Do you mean Queensland?

Weta
WA, 891 posts
30 Oct 2018 8:47AM
Thumbs Up

Pretty sure the OP was referring to the North island.

Queensland is a popular tourist spot on the West Island where we go to look at Wallabies, koala bears and other cuddly looking marsupials :)

DutchRooster
NSW, 325 posts
30 Oct 2018 11:47AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Plummet said..
January isn't the best time for waves. Usually they are smaller with less frontal driven swell.

That said. Prevailing wind is Westerly. Your best bet for the best waves will be the west coast. The best waves on the west coast is in Raglan and Taranaki. Taranaki works from ne to SE, but is best W, WSW and SE.

However some times in January there are easterly driven tropical systems. Then you will want yo look on the east coast!
Hopefully someone else will chime in on east coast spots.


Thanks Plummet. Any particular spots at Raglan and Taranaki you can share? Please PM me if you don't want to publicise any secret spots - I'll honour the privacy of local spots!

I've been searching for a decent website with historical wind data for New Zealand so that I plan to spend more time in those areas with higher wind stats. Any idea what website is best (so far it looks like windfinder is the only one with any info)?

DutchRooster
NSW, 325 posts
30 Oct 2018 11:50AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Gilly3 said..
On the east coast try:
Orewa Beach, Auckland
Waihi Beach, Waihi
Mt Maunganui
For a bit of flat water fun around the mount, Ferguson Park, Otumoetai ( make sure you walk the mount)

The scenery on the north island will take your breath away, as for the weather....Good Luck!

Oh, also recommend white water rafting on the kaituna river near Rotorua, only 7m drop around I think....Cheers


Thanks Gilly3!

Regarding the rafting on Kaituna river - what grade is that? 7m drop makes it sound mental!!

Gilly3
QLD, 794 posts
30 Oct 2018 3:45PM
Thumbs Up

Hey Mate,

Grade 5 I believe....never been before so that was our first experience, stayed upright with 4 in the boat over the 7m drop....

www.rotorua-rafting.co.nz/?gclid=CjwKCAjw39reBRBJEiwAO1m0OZnQyCK0waOfa03L4HrSTz2iQA6tkn_ZGNn3SMyFODHuNqD4VauP6RoCgM4QAvD_BwE

I think there are about 4 x 2m drops and 2 x 1m drops....very cool scenery aswell


Also if you do head to the east coast, make sure you check out The Coromandel Peninsular, down to Whangamata on to Waihi and the Mount


Have a great trip dude!!

Chris_M
2128 posts
30 Oct 2018 3:58PM
Thumbs Up

Tarankai, Raglan and Muriwai.

East coast spots near Aucks - try Mangawhai outside the lagoon if the NE is howling, inside the lagoon sick flatwater too, and Mount Maunganui.

Plenty of people trying to surf the chop at Orewa too, but I'd rather be riding ya mum (sight unseen)

Lots of options further north too.



bjw
NSW, 3568 posts
30 Oct 2018 7:36PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Weta said..
Cuddly looking marsupials :)


Aren't you too old for Schoolies week?

Weta
WA, 891 posts
30 Oct 2018 6:17PM
Thumbs Up

Skooleys on the GC went for a month when i was living there. I was too old then and definitely too old now.

I've read that Mangawhai is good, Ruakaka also. There are a few spots up North around Spirits Bay, Shipwreks and 90 mile beach that could be worth a look.

The west coast of NZ is where the wind is at....................check out Raglan for sure. Also the Northern tip of the South Island is meant to be good and Windy Wellington.

Enjoy, it's a beautiful country



SUPSurferQLD
QLD, 314 posts
11 Nov 2018 3:05PM
Thumbs Up

Taranaki is pretty much hands down the premium wave spot, the swell period and size they get in there is insane.

add to that a thumping, high density frontal seabreeze, and it is an epic playground. I rode there on the most **** of days and it was still great fun, you could tell how well it would work if the swell was a tad cleaner.

Wellington was ok, but super changeable. it was pretty dicey riding in the city bay area, but waikanae was working ok when we were there, wind was a bit light but still good fun on the gusts. great thing about the river mouths is there is no chance of sharks. unlike aus.

Waveswindy
NSW, 114 posts
3 Dec 2018 11:51PM
Thumbs Up

Mate you should probably spend the time with your family....

bjw
NSW, 3568 posts
4 Dec 2018 7:39AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
EugeneZA said..
Mate you should probably spend the time with your family....


FYI they are the squatters living in your house not paying rent that don't kite.

DutchRooster
NSW, 325 posts
26 Dec 2018 2:14PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
SUPSurferQLD said..
Taranaki is pretty much hands down the premium wave spot, the swell period and size they get in there is insane.

add to that a thumping, high density frontal seabreeze, and it is an epic playground. I rode there on the most **** of days and it was still great fun, you could tell how well it would work if the swell was a tad cleaner.

Wellington was ok, but super changeable. it was pretty dicey riding in the city bay area, but waikanae was working ok when we were there, wind was a bit light but still good fun on the gusts. great thing about the river mouths is there is no chance of sharks. unlike aus.


Where/which beach near Taranaki would you recommend? Thanks

Plummet
4862 posts
26 Dec 2018 4:57PM
Thumbs Up

East End in New Plymouth is the go to spot in a westerly. Join Taranaki kitesurfers facebook page and the guys on there will give you the low down on closer to the day.

DutchRooster
NSW, 325 posts
27 Dec 2018 12:30AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Plummet said..
East End in New Plymouth is the go to spot in a westerly. Join Taranaki kitesurfers facebook page and the guys on there will give you the low down on closer to the day.


done, thanks

DutchRooster
NSW, 325 posts
13 Jan 2019 6:47PM
Thumbs Up

Unlikely I'll make it to Taranaki - rest of the crew isn't keen on all the driving so consensus is to cut the distances. Will keep my fingers crossed for some wind in the Raglan area.

Anyone here have any recommendations for Raglan kite spots?

the truth
QLD, 189 posts
13 Jan 2019 7:57PM
Thumbs Up

mate, everything in New Zealand is just down the road, you can drive from one end to the other in 12 hours and across in 2.



Subscribe
Reply

Forums > Kitesurfing General


"New Zealand North Island - good wave kite spots?" started by DutchRooster