Kite spot on water · New Zealand

WANGANUI RIVER ESTUARY

Name: WANGANUI RIVER ESTUARY
Address: NZ

Riders have kited it in all directions. Best in S, SW, W, NW.

Show on the map-39.9505, 175.0120

Works in: all directions
Best: S, SW, W, NW
Nearest airport: WAGWanganui Airport, 2 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

bestworksno reports

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

From riders

What you need to know

Watch out for

Floating logs and driftwood in the river, especially after rain and at high tidecommunity map
The river is occasionally pollutedcommunity map

Getting there

Access by the Wanganui Sailing Clubcommunity map

Conditions

In south wind (S) at low tide, the speed bar on the other side of the river workscommunity map
Flat water, tide-dependent - best 2 to 3 hours before and after high tidecommunity map

Facilities

Facilities at Wanganui Sailing Clubcommunity map
Rental and school at the Wind Shedcommunity map

In riders' own words

„Wind: NW,W,SW. S is good for the speed bar at low tide on other side of river. The river is sailable in any wind“
„Access: By the Wanganui Sailing Club, facilities at Club.“
„Out for logs which float down river especially after rain.“
„River can be polluted at times.“
„Water: Flat. Best 3 hours either side of high tide.“
„Hire School: Available at the Wind Shed.“

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.

12.1Jan6.2

11.1Feb5.7

10.9Mar5.6

10.8Apr5.6

11.9May6.1

12.3Jun6.3

12.2Jul6.3

11.7Aug6.0

13.0Sep6.7

13.2Oct6.8

12.8Nov6.6

11.8Dec6.1

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

Values by month

January	12.1 knots · 6.2 m/s
February	11.1 knots · 5.7 m/s
March	10.9 knots · 5.6 m/s
April	10.8 knots · 5.6 m/s
May	11.9 knots · 6.1 m/s
June	12.3 knots · 6.3 m/s
July	12.2 knots · 6.3 m/s
August	11.7 knots · 6.0 m/s
September	13.0 knots · 6.7 m/s
October	13.2 knots · 6.8 m/s
November	12.8 knots · 6.6 m/s
December	11.8 knots · 6.1 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.