kiting Cooktown is fantastic......
it will blow you away...literally
Super cheap kiting holiday where it blows 20+ kts every day.
One of the best spots is Elim beach about an hours drive north of Cooktown..
The road is half bitumen half dirt...any soft 4WD will do it easy(ie Vitara,Xtrail) and let you drive on the beach.
This is Aborigional land so make sure you stop at the indigenous community, Hope Vale, on the way in to get your $20 permit. Gas up at the servo(cash only) and get your permit here.. Tourists are encouraged to visit this beach each year to view the beautiful coloured sands..it just so happens the fishing and kiting is awesome aswell.
We drove up in the farm ute (2WD) towing a tinny as we wanted to fish aswell..though the wind nuked the whole time we were there so we just kited..
Stay at "Eddies" a camping ground (run by one of the indigenous elders ie Eddie) cost from memory is $10 a night...When you get to the beach turn right for 200m to the entrance of the camping ground..a great spot on the water yet sheltered from the wind by the cape and the trees.
The best kiting spots are about 500m up the beach(turn left at the beach entrance),mostly flat water in shallow gutters round the first small point or small chop before you get to the point...as I have mentioned over 20kts for the 3 days we were there...I dont think you are allowed to camp on the beach(indegenous land) nor would you want to though as it howls all day and night so you would have sand in every orifice...and the camp ground at Eddies is great and keeps you out of the howling wind and sand...
All in all one of the most amazing places you can kite, with strong constant SE wind this time of year, beautiful clear blue water,and easy access.
(you could fly to Cairns pick up a soft roader 4WD and drive up)....
Our trip cost less than $500..which included fuel for the drive ,groceries and camping fees/permits. split this between the three of us and you have one of the cheapest most amazing kiting holidays ever....
get into it
