CS2027 dates

Kite spot on water · New Zealand

Pauatahanui

Riders have kited it in E, SE.

Show on the map-41.0991, 174.8709
Works in
E, SE
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

NNNENEENEEESESESSESSSWSWWSWWWNWNWNNWNESW

worksno reports

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

riding areaPparking

From riders

What you need to know

Who it suits
Intermediate and above only due to the small launch area.
Size of the area
Small launch area.

Watch out for

  • Small launch area.community map

Where to launch

  • Launch just off Mana Esplanade at the west end of the bay; the launch area is quite small.community map

Parking

  • Car park about 250 m from the spot, free.unguarded · OpenStreetMap

Conditions

  • Flat, shallow water where you can stand up if needed. Works around high tide (a few hours before and after).community map
  • Needs to be ridden around high tide, roughly two hours on either side.community map

Riders' tips

  • In E and SE winds it blows a steady ~16 knots (8 m/s) here, even when there is almost no wind in town.community map
In riders' own words
  • „- Only good in E, SE (that Ive noticed)“
  • „- Only good for Intermediate riders and up as launch area is quite small.“
  • „Launched just off Mana Esplanade at the Western End of the Inlet.“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/1342560839“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/235071583“
  • „Nice flat water and relatively safe as the inlet is shallow and you can stand up if you get yourself in the trouble.“
  • „- Needs to be around hight tide time, couple of hours either side.“
  • „Ive noticed it blows around 16kts in a E, SE and in town there is hardly anything.“

Photos from the area

Paremata station building
Paremata station building · 895 m from the spot
André Brett, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Paremata station overview
Paremata station overview · 895 m from the spot
André Brett, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
View from the bench (OpenBenches 3115-2)
View from the bench (OpenBenches 3115-2) · 919 m from the spot
edent, CC BY-SA 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
January12.9 knots · 6.6 m/s
February12.2 knots · 6.3 m/s
March11.8 knots · 6.1 m/s
April11.5 knots · 5.9 m/s
May12.3 knots · 6.3 m/s
June12.5 knots · 6.4 m/s
July12.6 knots · 6.5 m/s
August12.2 knots · 6.3 m/s
September13.8 knots · 7.1 m/s
October13.7 knots · 7.0 m/s
November13.6 knots · 7.0 m/s
December12.8 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.

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.