CS2027 dates

Kite spot on water · New Zealand

Lake Onoke - western launch site

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

Show on the map-41.3834, 175.1072
Nearest airport
WLGWellington International Airport, 26 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

From riders

What you need to know

Watch out for

  • After rain there can be a strong current at the river mouth near the pub; tricky when swimming across the river if the wind dies.community map
  • East side: walk over river rocks straight into a fairly deep river.community map
  • Ankle-deep mud.community map

Where to launch

  • The east side by the pub has a small launch area in the parking lot right by the lake and entry over river rocks into a deep river.community map
  • Launching is much easier on the west side of the lake; with 4WD you can drive onto the spit, otherwise park and rig before it.community map

Parking

  • In the corner of the lake before the spit (no 4WD needed), or on the eastern side at the parking lot right by the lake.community map

Getting there

  • Via Rimutaka Hill Road, take the 1st right entering Featherston (Western Lake Road) for approx. 40 km, then 4 km on gravel to the cattle grid, and turn left onto Lake Onoke through the gate.community map
  • Driving onto the spit is 4x4 only.community map

Rules and respect

  • Past the intersection, there is a gate that must be closed again after passing through.community map

Conditions

  • Very shallow on the west side (knee- to waist-deep for a long way out at low tide) with ankle-deep mud.community map

Riders' tips

  • The west side of the lake is much better for riding; the east side by the pub gets very crowded in midsummer.community map

Facilities

  • On the east side (Lake Ferry) there is a pub, campsite, and a dial-up wind meter (08 3229069, 12 cents/min). There is nothing on the west side.community map
In riders' own words
  • „The western side doesn''t have a pub or anything really but the sailing and launching is much easier“
  • „eastern side by the pub can be very crowded due to the camp ground with small launching space on the car park right next to the lake“
  • „If you got a 4wd you can drive onto the spit otherwise park and rig there.“
  • „Follow that road for about 40km then after about 4km on gravel the road splits at a cattle stop. Follow the little yellow sign on your left to "Lake Onoke".“
  • „you have to walk over riverstones that squash your feet straight into quite a deep river.“
  • „Depending on how much rain there was the rive can flow quite strong close to the river mouth by the pub. it can get ricky if you have to swim across it“
  • „It's all pretty shallow and angle deep mud.“
  • „There is gate right after that junction, so just open and close it again.“
  • „it is shallow [knee to waist deep for ages at low tide]“
  • „There is a windmeter close to the pub that you can ring up too. 08 3229069 costs 12cent a minute“
  • „For sailing I much prefer the western side of the lake.“

Photos from the area

Lake Ōnoke and Palliser Bay
Lake Ōnoke and Palliser Bay · 1453 m from the spot
Johnragla, CC0, 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
January13.3 knots · 6.8 m/s
February12.7 knots · 6.5 m/s
March12.4 knots · 6.4 m/s
April12.2 knots · 6.3 m/s
May13.0 knots · 6.7 m/s
June13.4 knots · 6.9 m/s
July13.5 knots · 6.9 m/s
August13.1 knots · 6.7 m/s
September14.4 knots · 7.4 m/s
October14.2 knots · 7.3 m/s
November14.0 knots · 7.2 m/s
December13.4 knots · 6.9 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.