Continent |
Australia |
Country |
Australia |
Next Big City |
Melbourne |
Next Town |
Melbourne |
|
Type: |
Ocean |
Rider Ability: |
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Rental, Toilet, Food, Parking |
Water
Type: |
Shallow, Flat, Chop |
Hazards: |
Buoys, Mole, Rocks |
Quality: |
Clean |
Best Tide: |
Tide independent |
The beach is located at the northern end of Port Phillip Bay, and is partially protected from choppy water by a pier and rock wall. Once outside the protection of the rock wall the chop can get up to 1-1.5m. There are only a few submerged rocks in the water. Separate areas for beginners, intermediate, advanced.
Beach
Type: |
Sand |
Size: |
Medium |
Hazards: |
Shells |
Beach Users: |
January, December |
The beach has quite a few shells. At it widest the beach is about 100m wide, which is good because on the other side of the beach wall is a busy road. Launching at this wide point of the beach is relatively easy. Towards the east the beach narrows and there is a pier. Towards the west the beach also narrows and gets very close to the main road. After being blown down wind, the walk back can involve your kite sitting very near the road so watch out for gusts. The beach can get ridiculously busy in summer.
Weather
Spring:
|
Shorty, Normal |
Summer:
|
Shorts, Shorty |
Fall:
|
Shorty, Normal |
Winter:
|
Normal |
The air temperature ranges from an average maximum of around 28°C in summer (maximum up to 40°C), to around 13°C in winter (with some days below 10°C). The water temperature ranges from a high of about 21°C in summer to a low of 11°C in winter.
Wind
Best Months: |
January, December |
Wind Type: |
Thermal |
Best Direction: |
S, SSW, SW |
Main Direction: |
S, SSW, SW |
Onshore is approximately SSW. You can generally kitesurf in anything from a southeasterly (generally a bit gusty) to a Southwesterly. During summer we get sea breezes about 5 or 6 days a week, from the South or Southwest at up to 20 knots.
How to get there
Transport |
Car |
Access
|
Short walk |
The beach is at the northern tip of Port Phillip Bay, and is a 10 minute drive from Melbourne city.
Extra information
Generally the better kitesurfers keep to the eastern end of the beach, nearest the pier. The intermediates stick towards the western end, starting inside the protection of the rock wall then heading out towards the west and into the open chop. Beginners are best advised to stay in between these two groups as there is a sandy point which allows them to walk out and prepare for down wind body drags. It is also a wide part of the beach giving them the most room for error before hitting something hard.
Nightlife