There are a number of great windsurfing spots around NZ. This is a short guide so some of these spots. If you have a spot to add or some info to add let me know.
North:
Mangawai Heads:
Tide: All
Wind: N-SW
At the Beach: The outer side of the heads can provide great wave sailing on its day. The inside provides for epic flat water action when the tides are working. Launching can be hard as there are loads of currents moving in and out of the heads.
Getting there:
Orewa:
Tide: Mid to low
Wind: NE-SE, ENE is on-shore
At the Beach: Sandy beach with big grassy rigging areas. Look out for other water users as there are usually quite a few. Mostly an onshore wave spot that can get quite big after a few stormy days.
Getting there: There are a number of roads down to the long beach but most common access is off the main road into the central car park at the middle of the beach.
Shakespeare regional Park:
Tide: All
Wind: SE-SW, SSW is on-shore
At the Beach: A nice colourful beach at the end of the whangaparoa peninsula. There is plenty of grassy rigging and a nice rock free beach. Watch out for shallow patches at low tide though. Mostly bump and jump conditions but can provide some pretty decent swells at times.
Getting there: Follow the main road out to the end of the whangaparoa peninsula and then turn right into Shakespeare Regional Park.
Manly Beach:
Tide: All
Wind: NW-NE, N is on-shore
At the Beach: Another Sandy beach which happens to also be home to Flying Forwards Windsurf School.
Getting there: Main road down whangaparoa peninsula then follow the signs going to big manly beach.
Browns Bay:
Tide: Mid to Low
Wind: E-NE
At the Beach: Sandy beach which is often gusty and choppy but after a few cranking days can offer up some nice little swells. Otherwise you can sail up to the browns bay reef at low tide and try for some flat water.
Getting there: One can launch from anywhere on the beach but the northern end can be the easiest if the wind goes a bit more NE.
Takapuna:
Tide: Mid to Low
Wind: N-NE
At the Beach: Long beach which can offer a great mix of bump and jump or waves depending on the day and tide. Watch for parking wardens.
Getting there: Most windsurfers launch from Takapuna boat ramp leaving the kiter's the beach. Access is off Lake Rd
Cheltenham:
Tide: Mid to High
Wind: NNE-SE
At the Beach: Another sandy beach but with not much rigging area and parking is curb side. Also watch the bottom at lower tides as it can get really shallow.
Getting there:
Lake Pupuke:
Tide: It's always high tide at the lake
Wind: NE right round to NE, but SW-W is the best and most consistent.
At the Beach: Loads of parking and grass to rig on. Flat water or small chop is all that you will find here. Also home to Mad Loop Windsurf School the biggest and most kited out in NZ. They are open every day except Monday.
Getting there: Access down Sylvan Park Ave into Sylvan Park
Shoal Bay:
Tide: Mid to high
Wind: SW-WSW
At the Beach: Sand bar at shoal bay provides for great flat water freestyle or blasting 2-3 hours either side of high tide. The channel further past the bar is good for bump and jump about 3 hours either side of high tide.
Getting there: Access down Lansdowne Ave, can get pretty full pretty quick on a good day as there is not allot of parking space or rigging are.
Bayswater:
Tide: Mid to high
Wind: SSW-WSW
At the Beach: Loads of grass to rig up on and almost always someone else out on the water on the average day. Water usually flat to choppy.
Getting there:
Birkenhead wharf:
Tide: Incoming
Wind: W
At the Beach: lots of rigging and parking. Launch is off the boat ramp behind the ferry building so a bit hard to get out. Watch out for ferries and fishermen of the end of the pier.
Getting there:
Island Bay:
Tide:?
Wind: SW-NW
At the Beach: Bit of grass to rig on and plenty of parking. Water is mostly choppy but can get flatter on big low tides. Watch out for oysters and shallow patches.
Getting there:
Middle:
Pt Chevalier:
Tide: All but flatter at lower tides
Wind: S-N, best in SSW-SW
At the Beach: Not a lot of grassy rigging but lots of parking and always lots of people out. Home to Auckland Windsurfing School. Launching is easy at high tide right of the ramp but at low tide there is a decent walk over now mostly oyster free muddy rock to get to the water’s edge.
Getting there:
Meola Reef:
Tide: Mid to Low, incoming is easier
Wind: WSW-W
At the Beach: Launch for windsurfers is easiest from Birkenhead Warf from which you can sail up to the reef about 1km upwind. On incoming tide this is easy as the current sucks you strait up. Once up there the water is flat and the wind pretty strong.
Getting there: From Birkenhead Warf
Mission Bay:
Tide:?
Wind:?
At the Beach: Plenty of grass and loads of parking but can be full of weekend beachgoers during summer.
Getting there:
Tamaki yacht Club:
Tide:?
Wind:?
At the Beach: Loads of grass to rig on and not a lot of water hazards.
Getting there:
Bucklands Beach:
Tide:?
Wind:?
At the Beach:?
Getting there:
South:
Jenkins bay:
Tide:?
Wind:?
At the Beach:?
Getting there:?
Lynfield Speed Strip:
Tide: Low
Wind: SW
At the Beach: World famous speed spot right here in NZ. Sand bar out on the Manukau harbour that you have to sail up to.
Getting there:
Rest of New Zealand:
Taranaki:
Wicked wave sailing location. Very rocky gusty and can get quite big but there are beaches and days to cater to every level of sailor. Most common intro spot is Waitara just north of New Plymouth.
Wellington:
Wellington is possibly the windiest spot in NZ or at least the windiest city. Spots down there include Plimmerton, Evans Bay, Eastbourne and Lyall Bay.
NZ Windsurfing Forum
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