I like swell map
www.swellmap.co.nz/surfing/new-zealand/fitzroy-beach

Windy is good to get a handle on wind on a larger scale
www.windy.com/?-41.780,172.266,6

What type of riding are you looking to do?

Piha's north island

Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......

Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).

If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.

The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.

Enjoy!

Plummet said..
I like swell map
www.swellmap.co.nz/surfing/new-zealand/fitzroy-beach

Windy is good to get a handle on wind on a larger scale
www.windy.com/?-41.780,172.266,6

What type of riding are you looking to do?

Thanks for the info.

I normally go out on the waves but this time I will be bringing a twintip with me mainly for logistic reasons :)

Nelson sucks for wind. Take a monster kite and baord, Usually they have ****ty pissant seabreezes,

Nelson often gets 15 knot sea breezes at this time of year. I suspect this year is one of those with the big blocking High. Souwesters are good too. The westerly and norwesterly seldom gets over the mountains.
The west coast can be very good and at times extreme, either around Golden Bay or via Westport. Check out Cape Foulwind south of Westport, lots of options depending on wind direction. Captain Cook had good reason for calling it that, it can get stupidly windy. I don't think we will see too many westerlies this Xmas though, La Ni?a seems to have kicked in already.

Here's plummets fave spot??
In New Zealand or anywhere come to think of it

Chris_M said..

hebbo said..
Thanks all for the info and links. Very useful.

Yeah, I will be driving mostly on the north half of the South Island for a week.

Chris_M said..
Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......

Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).

If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.

The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.

Enjoy!

That Tahuna beach sounds like a good place to stop (there is even a campground around to stop).

Since you seems to know the area well, what would be my best bet for kite size? I will bring a 133cm twintip and I can choose from 8m,10 and 12m kites. What do you think? The 10m Pivot works good for me from ~18knots to ~22knots.

Thanks!

I had my bases covered with a 9 and a 12m (100kg and 135x41 twinny) although occasionally when a good SW comes in I would have liked an 8m.

Take all your kites! If you need to borrow kites you could go see Warren (kitescool). He is a pretty chill dude and if he knows you know what you are doing kite-wise he could be keen to rent you a big one (14 or 16m) if you need on a lighter wind day, but you'd have to approach it right, because he's not a rental, just a good fella I used to work for.

If you need a good pub to check out, go to the Sprig and Fern (there are a few of these around the place). 22 different kinds of craft beer on tap, and a nice clientele of 25yr olds + with a good social vibe and no doof doof music. A good place to meet travellers and locals alike.

Cool thanks! Will pop in @ kitescool and Sprig and Fern then. Seems like I may be fine on my 10m. If the wind is lighter than 18knots I probably should be doing something else while in NZ, shouldn't I? :)

hebbo said..

Chris_M said..

hebbo said..
Thanks all for the info and links. Very useful.

Yeah, I will be driving mostly on the north half of the South Island for a week.

Chris_M said..
Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......

Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).

If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.

The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.

Enjoy!

That Tahuna beach sounds like a good place to stop (there is even a campground around to stop).

Since you seems to know the area well, what would be my best bet for kite size? I will bring a 133cm twintip and I can choose from 8m,10 and 12m kites. What do you think? The 10m Pivot works good for me from ~18knots to ~22knots.

Thanks!

I had my bases covered with a 9 and a 12m (100kg and 135x41 twinny) although occasionally when a good SW comes in I would have liked an 8m.

Take all your kites! If you need to borrow kites you could go see Warren (kitescool). He is a pretty chill dude and if he knows you know what you are doing kite-wise he could be keen to rent you a big one (14 or 16m) if you need on a lighter wind day, but you'd have to approach it right, because he's not a rental, just a good fella I used to work for.

If you need a good pub to check out, go to the Sprig and Fern (there are a few of these around the place). 22 different kinds of craft beer on tap, and a nice clientele of 25yr olds + with a good social vibe and no doof doof music. A good place to meet travellers and locals alike.

Cool thanks! Will pop in @ kitescool and Sprig and Fern then. Seems like I may be fine on my 10m. If the wind is lighter than 18knots I probably should be doing something else while in NZ, shouldn't I? :)

If you can get the blind channel at the end of tahuna beach on the outgoing tide you can get going in some pretty light winds, but beware - it's known for taking your board out into the middle of tasman bay if you stuff it up!

Have a great time, post some pics, I'm homesick!

Chris_M said..

hebbo said..

Chris_M said..

hebbo said..
Thanks all for the info and links. Very useful.

Yeah, I will be driving mostly on the north half of the South Island for a week.

Chris_M said..
Sounds like you are hitting the North of the South Island, so ignore the suggestions above, they are for the North Island......

Upper South Island has some magic spots, in Nelson Tahuna beach is great because it catches the North Westerlies and Sou Westers which can get pretty strong. You'll see all the kites up, there is a pretty big crew there. Go to the carpark at the western end of Tahuna to set up. You'll see the kitescool trailer and know you are in the right carpark. Ask Warren about the hazards/ things to watch for (blind channel has a pretty strong current that has claimed many a board).

If you are venturing around Golden bay there are some amazing spots, but you have to be lucky with the wind to really score it. You need the NE wind, so Marahau and other NE facing spots in the bay can be sick on the odd occasion.

The upper west coast around farewell spit can also be amazing, but good to have someone spotting you because it can be a bit wild out there.

Enjoy!

That Tahuna beach sounds like a good place to stop (there is even a campground around to stop).

Since you seems to know the area well, what would be my best bet for kite size? I will bring a 133cm twintip and I can choose from 8m,10 and 12m kites. What do you think? The 10m Pivot works good for me from ~18knots to ~22knots.

Thanks!

I had my bases covered with a 9 and a 12m (100kg and 135x41 twinny) although occasionally when a good SW comes in I would have liked an 8m.

Take all your kites! If you need to borrow kites you could go see Warren (kitescool). He is a pretty chill dude and if he knows you know what you are doing kite-wise he could be keen to rent you a big one (14 or 16m) if you need on a lighter wind day, but you'd have to approach it right, because he's not a rental, just a good fella I used to work for.

If you need a good pub to check out, go to the Sprig and Fern (there are a few of these around the place). 22 different kinds of craft beer on tap, and a nice clientele of 25yr olds + with a good social vibe and no doof doof music. A good place to meet travellers and locals alike.

Cool thanks! Will pop in @ kitescool and Sprig and Fern then. Seems like I may be fine on my 10m. If the wind is lighter than 18knots I probably should be doing something else while in NZ, shouldn't I? :)

If you can get the blind channel at the end of tahuna beach on the outgoing tide you can get going in some pretty light winds, but beware - it's known for taking your board out into the middle of tasman bay if you stuff it up!

Have a great time, post some pics, I'm homesick!

Here you go mate
feel better now