CS2027 dates

Kite spot on water · New Zealand

Half moon bay

Riders have kited it in N, NNE, S, SSW.

Show on the map-36.8747, 174.8835
Works in
N, NNE, S, SSW
Nearest airport
AKLAuckland International Airport, 18 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

NNNENEENEEESESESSESSSWSWWSWWWNWNWNNWNESW

worksno reports

Direction the wind blows from. Based on riders' experience, not a forecast.

Pparking

From riders

What you need to know

Watch out for

  • Strong currents, shifty wind, and ferries using the shipping channel.community map

Where to launch

  • Two options: rig at Riddell Rd or at the end of West Tamaki Rd (Waiotiki bay) and kite out to the spit, or walk to the end of the spit from Visat cres.community map

Parking

  • Parking on Riddell Rd or at the end of West Tamaki Rd (Waiotiki bay).community map
  • Car park about 250 m from the spot.OpenStreetMap
  • Parking on Visat cres.community map

Getting there

  • From the parking lot on Visat Cres, walk to the end of the spit (15 minutes).community map

Conditions

  • Flat water, wind funnels through the river and accelerates. S/SSW and NNE/N are sideshore. Rideable on all tides, best from mid-incoming to mid-outgoing tide.community map

Riders' tips

  • If in doubt, stay close to shore.community map
In riders' own words
  • „Wind: S/SSW-Side shore NNE/N-Side shore“
  • „park your car at Riddell Rd or end of West Tamaki Rd,Waiotiki bay.Set up and Kite to the spit.Or park at Visat cres and walk to the end of the spit(15 mins)“
  • „Or park at Visat cres and walk to the end of the spit(15 mins)“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/157044640“
  • „Dangers: Strong currents,Flukey wind and Ferries that use the channel.“
  • „Amazing Flatwater spot,wind funnels down the river and picks up speed... Can be kited at all tides,but is great from Mid incoming to Mid out going.“
  • „Stay colse in if you are not confident.“

Photos from the area

Female Badumna frontal
Female Badumna frontal · 536 m from the spot
shaun-lee, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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.

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

Values by month
January10.5 knots · 5.4 m/s
February9.8 knots · 5.0 m/s
March9.9 knots · 5.1 m/s
April10.0 knots · 5.1 m/s
May11.0 knots · 5.7 m/s
June11.7 knots · 6.0 m/s
July11.5 knots · 5.9 m/s
August11.3 knots · 5.8 m/s
September11.9 knots · 6.1 m/s
October12.4 knots · 6.4 m/s
November11.7 knots · 6.0 m/s
December11.4 knots · 5.9 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.

A week on the water

Kite safari in the Red Sea

8 days on a yacht from Hurghada to the islands of the northern Red Sea. Next departure 7-14 November 2026, the 2027 dates are coming soon.

See the safari

The safari is organised by Mohamed of Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea. I've known him for years and we work together.