Keen to travel to New Zealand for winging? Not too sure on your skill set just yet? Here is my pick of 5 great flatwater spots in New Zealand. Wing friendly entry, deep water without walking for miles, with steady wind.
Rangiputa:
Rangiputa on the Karikari Peninsula in Northland is one of my favourite spots for many reasons. One of them is the nice flat water which makes learning just so easy. Being in Northland, it's reasonably warm all year round and you can happily wing there in the middle of winter in a 4/3 wetsuit. In effect, winter is one of the most reliable seasons for wind! Come and join us on our Northland Surfari if you want an introduction to the whole area (waternomads.co.nz/northland-weekend-foiling-trip/).
Auckland:
New Zealands biggest city with its countless beaches and bays offers a flatwater spot in a range of conditions.
You will usually find people on the water in Point Chev. A bit of a long slog at low tide, but the bonus is it works in nearly any wind direction (except for E-SE, which doesn't really happen in Auckland anyway). Auckland Windsurfing offers lessons and Brian at the NZ Boardstore can sort you with gear.
Lake Pupuke on the Northshore is super popular for foiling and can get crowded at times. Though the freshwater lake is not big and winds are often gusty, it has the advantage that it is always high tide and you can't get lost on it. Need some lessons? Madloop Windsurfing is based right at the waters edge. Down the road in Takapuna Sam from NZ Foilcenter has a huge selection of anything related to foiling.
Other wingsurf spots to mention in Auckland are Bucklands Beach, Manly, and the mighty Manukau Harbour,...
Raglan:
Raglan Harbour offers plenty of flat water for winging. There is usually a good crowd of wingers and kitesurfers out there, making the most of the summer sea breezes and sharing a bevvy after the session. If you feel like more wave, just go out at the boatramp in Manu Bay and ride the swells.
Nelson:
Nelson, at the top of the South Island isn't famous for a lot of wind. But that's no problem when it comes to foiling, as the summer sea breezes are just what you want. Back Beach offers a sandy entry and plenty of space. If you prefer a bit of input into your winging, go and see Tim and the crew at the Nelson Yachtclub, they not only teach boating but also wingsurfing and windsurfing.
Lake Clearwater:
An hour out of Christchurch, Lake Clearwater is situated at the eastern side of the Divide. It's another favourite spot of ours. Apart from a small holiday settlement, there isn't much around, so come prepared. The Easterly winds are nice and steady, the Northwester can blow crazy down from the mountains. A true Kiwi experience.
If you want more info or don't want to bring your own gear across, you can rent gear from us, check our website waternomads.co.nz. Or join us on one of our Surfaris, they are always good fun!
It depends where in New Zealand you want to go. Best reliable wind conditions for Northland (Rangiputa) is winter, and it's still nice and reasonably warm. Auckland can be windy anytime if the year with February/March possibly being the most settled and least windy months of the year.
The Canterbury Lakes are great in summer with a good chance of wind, as long as you know how to read the weather map (lots of local thermals going on). We offer Surfari Trips to Northland and the Canterbury Lakes to help you be on the right spot at the right time.
Any good spots down near Dunedin? My daughter will be on exchange at the university there and I thought I would visit sometime between September and November and bring my winging gear.
Yes, Dunedin has a good wingfoil scene and plenty of spots. For flatwater you can go out in the harbour, for waves people like Aramoana in a Northerly. With the Otago Peninsula you have so many places to go, best to look at a map, check the wind direction and then pick a spot that looks good- it most likely is. I myself haven't done much winging down there, hence I cannot tell you exactly where to go in which direction, but definitely plenty of people doing it. Bring a WARM wetsuit!
Yes, Dunedin has a good wingfoil scene and plenty of spots. For flatwater you can go out in the harbour, for waves people like Aramoana in a Northerly. With the Otago Peninsula you have so many places to go, best to look at a map, check the wind direction and then pick a spot that looks good- it most likely is. I myself haven't done much winging down there, hence I cannot tell you exactly where to go in which direction, but definitely plenty of people doing it. Bring a WARM wetsuit!
Lake Clearwater is my favourite spot in NZ. I bought two lodges there in 1997 and 1998 for our Windsurfing Camps we used to run in November and February.
Still have the Lodge down there if you are looking for accommodation to stay there - Sleeps 13 people in three bedrooms. I love it !!
