Continent |
Oceania |
Country |
New Zealand |
Next Big City |
Auckland (North Island) |
Next Town |
Pakuranga, Farm Cove |
|
Type: |
Ocean |
Rider Ability: |
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Parking |
Water
Type: |
Shallow, Flat, Chop |
Hazards: |
Currents |
Quality: |
Clean |
Best Tide: |
High tide |
Underfoot conditions aren't that great but water is flat. The north facing beach is excellent for learning. Small chop in channel. North facing spot best at high tide. Channel best when wind opposes tide. Tide current useful for increasing apparent wind.
Beach
Type: |
Grass, Sand, Pebbles |
Size: |
Small |
Hazards: |
Shells, Other |
Beach Users: |
None |
Mixture of sand, pebbles and shells. Watch out for broken glass. Nice reserve area for easy landing of the kite. Beach is pretty small.
Weather
Spring:
|
Normal |
Summer:
|
Shorts, Shorty |
Fall:
|
Normal |
Winter:
|
Normal |
Air temp in summer is 24°C average. Water temp on northern side can exceed 30°C so wetsuit definitely not required. In channel the water temp is a comparatively chilly 25°C. The best time of year to kite here is summertime, best from December to April.
Wind
Best Months: |
January, February, March, April, December |
Wind Type: |
Thermal |
Best Direction: |
N, NNE, NE, SW, WSW |
Main Direction: |
N, SW |
Summer thermals can come here for from 2 directions, N and SW. N thermal usually kicks in just before midday and usually peaks at 15 knots (more on occasions) and consistent for those big kite sessions. The SW thermal usually doesn't arrive until mid afternoon, if at all. Strength of SW thermal `Tamaki Doctor` varies from 10-30 knots but usually 15-25kt. In between period creates a hot windless patch with rapidly forming cloud which may produce rain and even thunder. Best directions here are from NE-N and WSW, SW. Winter and spring don't have suitable directions for this beach and the winds then are usually too strong for this place to handle.
How to get there
Transport |
Car |
Access
|
Short walk |
Once at AK airport, get the map out and head to Pakuranga (eastern Suburbs). Once at Pak, get the map out and head to Farm Cove, then get the map out and look for Pak yacht club, drive down a few roads and your get to the yacht club on the eastern shore of the Tamaki Estuary.
Extra information
Leash kite at all times, keep out of channel unless experienced, be courteous to other cars in car park. Pick up your rubbish. This place is closed from 9pm to 7am during summer months. (7pm to 7am during winter).
Nightlife