I'm going to Rotorua this weekend. wind looks to be 18 knots S to SE is there any spot i can kitesurf on the lake?

Anyone kitesurfed there before?

is it gusty as hell? being inland?

is it a worthy spot?

i've never kitesurfed a lake before. any tips?

Lake Rotorua is pretty good in a westerly / south-westerly up at the Ohau Channel area. Launch is from the reserve near Marana resort. Space is limited so you need help launching there. Waist deep for about 500m out. The wind is often surprisingly strong and steady; there is a venturi effect through the surrounding hills. There is often a late thermal that kicks in around 6pm.

However, it's South-easterly this weekend. Rotorua does get this wind stronger than the coast, particularly in the morning and evening. Launch from Ngongataha boat ramp reserve. It is very gusty though but shallow for a long way out.

There are more options off the coast. The closest is Little Waihi / Pukehina. Flat water inside the estuary and wave-riding off the coast. There should be a good crowd there this weekend if the wind does blow. The Bay of Plenty is quite sheltered from south-east and southerly winds so they don't always happen, especially during the warmer part of the day.

Simon

thanks simon.

i didn't end up kitesurfing but could have with the wind on saturday.... i'll keep that info for next time.

Hi Plummet,

I went for a quick spin out in the Little Waihi / Pukehina estuary but it was pretty gusty. It was too offshore (more SSE) for the coast at the time, although some did a scary down-winder in fickle cross-off and large waves at the Mount. A mate of mine did go out at Hamuarana (very top of the lake) and it was apparently pretty good, he got a windsurfer to help him launch from the water, there's lots of willow trees there.

Simon

It was a "family" holiday for me which means i'm not allowed to have any fun ;(. so i chose not to take the gear. however went for a drive to Tarawera and that was churning at around 25 to 30 knots. suprizingly felt relatively smooth.... almost no area to launch and land and absolutly no downwind safety zone if it all went pear shapped and you needed to self rescue.

That aside i haven't kite surfed any lakes and am pretty keen to do so at some point.

ps how did he land if the windsurfer helped him launch?

Same deal. The windsurfers are pretty good around here and are always happy to help us launch and land. Lake Tarawera cranks in a SE because it funnels past the mountain. It was only 20 knots everywhere else. Launching and landing is problematic though.