Kite spot on water · New Zealand

Down Winder from Kuku beach

Name: Down Winder from Kuku beach
Address: NZ

Practical notes from riders: launch, parking and what to watch out for.

Show on the map-40.7546, 175.0957

Nearest airport: PMRPalmerston North Airport, 65 km

Forecast and webcams

Before you go

Forecasts often disagree. When Windguru, ALADIN and Windy agree, it is worth going.

Tips for this spot

Offshore wind carries you away from land. Do not ride it without a rescue boat.
When a storm is coming, get out of the water and land the kite at once. Gusts before a storm are violent and a kite overhead is the highest point around.
New spot: ask locals about shallows, currents and where people launch.

On site

Wind and riding area

riding area

From riders

What you need to know

Conditions

Flat water at Kuku Beachcommunity map

Riders' tips

25 km downwinder from Kuku Beach, ideal to combine with a flat-water session at Kuku.community map

In riders' own words

„Would be best combined with a flat water session at Kuku.“
„25 Km Down winder from Kuku beach. Would be best combined with a flat water session at Kuku.“

Wind by month

When it blows

Average wind speed 10 m above ground from NASA POWER (MERRA-2, 2001–2025). The model works on a grid of roughly 50 km; on hills and by the water the wind is often stronger and gustier.

12.9Jan6.6

12.2Feb6.3

11.8Mar6.1

11.5Apr5.9

12.3May6.3

12.5Jun6.4

12.6Jul6.5

12.2Aug6.3

13.8Sep7.1

13.7Oct7.0

13.6Nov7.0

12.8Dec6.6

windiest monthsaverage wind in knots, NASA POWER; below the month in m/s

Values by month

January	12.9 knots · 6.6 m/s
February	12.2 knots · 6.3 m/s
March	11.8 knots · 6.1 m/s
April	11.5 knots · 5.9 m/s
May	12.3 knots · 6.3 m/s
June	12.5 knots · 6.4 m/s
July	12.6 knots · 6.5 m/s
August	12.2 knots · 6.3 m/s
September	13.8 knots · 7.1 m/s
October	13.7 knots · 7.0 m/s
November	13.6 knots · 7.0 m/s
December	12.8 knots · 6.6 m/s

Nearby

More spots within 60 km

Been there?

Add what you know

Parking changed, a new ban, a new obstacle in the water? Tell us, we will check it and update the page.

Sources: Community map “Kitesurfing spots in NZ” (Google My Maps). Wind NASA POWER, airports OurAirports, photos Wikimedia Commons (author and licence with each photo). As of 17 October 2026. These are riders' reports; local rules change, so look around before you ride and follow local signs.