Ranges from perfectly flat to medium chop depending on where you are. The chop is pretty clean too. The flat water area is on the sand spit that connects the nearby Flat Island. Flat Island works at low tide only whilst the bay works at all tides but best at mid. There are no currents there.

A small pretty narrow sandy beach in the bay whilst the flat island area is a vast sandbar that is exposed at low tide. The island is in the middle of the sandbar. Walk over tidal flats to get to spit. Safe launch/land at both sand spit and bay.

A large range of wind speeds can be kited here. The gap created between the island and the mainland creates a funnel effect giving you very high winds on that part of the spit, and super flat water. Spring is very windy with strong WSW winds most of the time. Winter is mostly SW but with more variety than spring. Summer is mostly moderately strong SW or NE winds or Sea Breezes. Autumn has high number of NE and N days. The season here runs all year but best in the afternoon. Mornings are pretty windless.

Head to Howick, then Whitford, then past Formose Golf course. At Beachlands (next exit) turn left. Go straight, veer around corner, head through township, at last turnoff is Sunkist Bay.

No rules here, just common sense applies. Watch launch at high tide. Be careful at flat island as strong offshore winds can blow you out to sea if not careful. Flat Island not for beginners.

No nightlife. Good nightlife in Auckland, 50km away.