CS2027 dates

Kite spot on water · New Zealand

Waikanae

Riders have kited it in NE, SW–N.

Show on the map-40.8709, 175.0063
Works in
NE, SW–N
Watch out
W
Nearest airport
WLGWellington International Airport, 53 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

worksdoes not work / gustyno reports

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

Pparking

From riders

What you need to know

Who it suits
All levels; #1 recommended spot for lessons and good for getting into wave riding.
Size of the area
Wide sandy beach at low tide, narrow (around 15 m) in some sections at high tide.
Watch out W
Very gusty in W; do not kite if the wind comes directly off Kapiti Island.

Watch out for

  • Some beach sections get narrow at high tide (approx. 15 m); road runs along the beach.community map

Where to launch

  • The best launch spot is at the SW end of the beach by the estuary.community map

Parking

  • Several parking lots along the roadside next to the beach.community map
  • Car park about 200 m from the spot, free.OpenStreetMap

Getting there

  • Turn left off Highway 1 by the shops and follow the road to the beach.community map

Rules and respect

  • Do not kite if the wind blows directly off the island.community map

Conditions

  • Wide sandy beach at low tide; N, NW, and W winds are onshore/cross-onshore. Picks up more swell than Paraparaumu, with messy surf.community map

Riders' tips

  • In NW wind, this is one of the first beaches not significantly shadowed by Kapiti Island. When it's windy, you will almost certainly meet other kiters.community map
In riders' own words
  • „Wind Direction Works NE to SW, but is very gusty in a W“
  • „but is very gusty in a W (do not kite if wind is coming directly from island) .“
  • „Level All Levels“
  • „This is a wide sandy beach at low tide but some sections are narrow (about 15m wide) at high tide.“
  • „The best place to launch is the southwest end of the beach at the estuary.“
  • „A road runs along the beach front and there are several car parks off to the side.“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/1308082359“
  • „OpenStreetMap node/3949756852“
  • „From Highway 1 turn left at the shops and follow the road to the beach.“
  • „Picks up more swell than Paraparaumu and is onshore“
  • „cross-onshore for N, NW and W winds. The surf is normally messy“
  • „In a NW this is one of the first beaches that does not get badly affected by Kapiti Island.“

Photos from the area

Broad-billed Prion, Waikanae Beach, North Island, New Zealand 1
Broad-billed Prion, Waikanae Beach, North Island, New Zealand 1 · 195 m from the spot
jacobl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Broad-billed Prion, Waikanae Beach, North Island, New Zealand 2
Broad-billed Prion, Waikanae Beach, North Island, New Zealand 2 · 195 m from the spot
jacobl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Broad-billed Prion, Waikanae Beach, North Island, New Zealand 3
Broad-billed Prion, Waikanae Beach, North Island, New Zealand 3 · 195 m from the spot
jacobl, 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.