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Kite spot on water · New Zealand

Kuku Beach??

Riders have kited it in SW–NW.

Show on the map-40.6625, 175.1612
Works in
SW–NW
Nearest airport
PMRPalmerston North Airport, 54 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.

From riders

What you need to know

Who it suits
Intermediate and advanced due to launch and safety.

Watch out for

  • Very shallow water - watch the depth when jumping.community map

Where to launch

  • Launch is not ideal; it is best to carry your gear across the creek and launch on the sandbar.community map

Getting there

  • From Highway 1, turn left about 10 minutes past Otaki, look for a small yellow sign.community map

Conditions

  • Best from 1 hour before high tide to 3 hours after (the estuary takes time to fill and then drains slowly).community map
  • Flat and very shallow water.community map

Riders' tips

  • When Waikanae has W wind and isn't working, this spot works great.community map
In riders' own words
  • „Wind Direction Works NW to SW, and in the W when Waikanae isn't“
  • „Level Intermediate/Advanced due to launch and safety“
  • „Launch... hmmm.. it aint great, best is to carry your gear across the stream and launch on the sand bar“
  • „From Highway 1 turn left about 10 minutes past Otaki, look for the small yellow sign.“
  • „Flat water and very shallow, if you are jumping be very aware of depth“
  • „best from 1hr before high tide till 3 hours after- it takes a while from the estuary to fill up then it drains slowly“
  • „If it is west at Waikanae, this place will be rocking“

Photos from the area

Waikawa beach
Waikawa beach · 1157 m from the spot
empty007, CC BY-SA 2.0, 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
January12.6 knots · 6.5 m/s
February11.8 knots · 6.1 m/s
March11.6 knots · 6.0 m/s
April11.6 knots · 6.0 m/s
May12.8 knots · 6.6 m/s
June13.2 knots · 6.8 m/s
July13.2 knots · 6.8 m/s
August12.6 knots · 6.5 m/s
September13.9 knots · 7.2 m/s
October13.9 knots · 7.2 m/s
November13.6 knots · 7.0 m/s
December12.5 knots · 6.4 m/s

Nearby

More spots within 60 km

Been there?

Add what you know

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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.