Hello,

I'm from Ireland and I am travelling to New Zealand in August for a year. I'm just looking for a bit advice before I come. What time of the year has the best winds? My current quiver is 9m, 12m and 17m but I probably will only have room for 1 or 2 kites so which size would I get best use of?
Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks and see ye on the water!
Niall.

Conditions in NZ vary hugely from place to place. Where are you planning to stay?

In general spring is the windiest time (ie not long after you arrive) and the 9 and 12 will get used heaps.

Thanks for the reply Thrasher, prob be in Auckland for the first few months anyway, not sure after that. Conditions sound pretty much similar to Ireland! 9m and 12m should pack nicely into my bag. Thanks again.

Sounds like you've got it sussed. Auckland for the spring and then head down south for the summer months. perfect setup... should be fun.

maybe we can hook up a few sessions when your in AKL. I'll show you some of the local beaches and hopefully spring will kick some ass.

Sounds great. Be cool to get an idea of the spots when I get there and get to know a few kitesurfers.I'll be hungry for kitesurfing as we're coming into our summer here now and the windy days are less and less!!
Thanks again for the help and I prob have a few more questions for you before I come over.

Wow our countries ARE similiar. Auckland is excellent from Sep to December and then eases off heaps in Jan and Feb. but down south it blows good right through summer.

We're pretty segregated in Auckland in regards to crews as the traffic can get pretty bad so most of us stay local. I kite out in the SE of the city which works well during summer as our eastuaries channel the Seabreeze and people don't lie on the beach in an estuary so no crowd issues. But during winter it's best at the main beaches (Orewa, Shakers, Muriwai etc).

It's a very complicated place (Auckland) during summer.. too complicated to describe on here but register on NorthNZKite yahoogroup and the "eastsiders" are all on there and we can show you the way.

I'm thinking of another trip down south to Wellington earlier on next year so if keen then let me know. PS normal conditions down there will have your beyond maxed on a 9m if you kite in the harbour. Thank goodness the kapiti coast is only 30 mins drive :twisted: .

Well similar as far as the we have our best kitesurfing in spring and Autum. Winter can be excellent if you can put up with the cold and rain and gusts!! Not sure what my plan is yet. Girlfriend coming over to teach so depends where she picks up a job (Auckland probably has most jobs), I'm going to live off my savings and kitesurf as much as possible for the year. Can't wait, nothing worse than looking out the window at work and the wind honking outside...

I finish work at midday so are keen after that. Arvo brings best wind anyway so i don't miss out on much except for the odd NE system.

You certainly won't find Auckland's winter too cold to kite in but best to kite with others or use a bow kite as it can be squally on occasions.

Looking forward to winter. It's not allways raining. The odd day can be pretty dodgy but more often that not it's sunny and windy in the arvo with only the very occasional shower. most of the rain happens in the morning out my way.

Can you tell me what Wellington is like for kitesurfing? Possibillity I might be heading there and not Auckland as I though. Just trying to get my homework done on as many places as possible before I leave.
Thanks again for all the info.

I loved it in Wellington.

During the summertime especially it has some major advantages over Auckland. During the winter (and perhaps spring) is the only time i'd probably rate Auckland over Wellington.

There are 6 kitebeaches in the entire city area to choose from and they are all (except for one) easy to get to. 3 in the harbour, one on the south city coast. The entire west coast and one incredable spot to the east of the city (that's the one that takes a while to get to).

All main directions covered by those 6 beaches so a nice easy setup.

Wellington is often too windy for the harbour beaches to be kited so the Kapiti coast (west coast) gets kited heaps. It's about 1/2 of the harbour windspeed on the coast so lots of good days there during the spring months when it's beyond nuts in the harbour. If you like it VERY windy then you'll love Wellington Harbour. If not then the Kapiti coast is ideal as it doesn't get the brutal "cook straight effect" that the harbour gets.

I could head down there in Jan again if i don't head to New Caledonia in Nov.

Hello,

Coming to New Zealand in August for a year, not exactly sure where I'm going but I think it could be Christchurch now. Anyone out there got some advice on Kitesurfing in the Christchurch area? I have seen that there are good beaches and lakes and that Oct -> Mar is best. Also is there the possiblity of completing the IKO Instructor training in christchurch?

Thanks,
Niall.