BEST WINDSURFING SPOTS IN NEW ZEALAND
Your Ultimate Windsurf Road Trip Map
This is Your Essential Windsurf Spotguide for an Epic Roadtrip in New Zealand.
Thinking of travelling and windsurfing in New Zealand? Good choice! We might be biased, as we love our backyard, but we think a windsurfing road trip here should be on every adventurous sailor’s bucket list.
Windsurfing in New Zealand offers a very different style of travel compared to a typical resort holiday in the Canary Islands or Greece. In fact, you won’t find resort-style accommodation with a windsurf club and rental centre in walking distance anywhere. You won’t even find many windsurfing schools.
What you will find is raw adventure. It’s like the old days: loading up the van and taking off, not knowing exactly where the wind will blow you. Every day is a new surprise, a new discovery. Here, you can still explore off the beaten track and discover countless epic spots that you might have all to yourself, with breathtaking, stunning scenery in the background. Often, the reason no one is there is simply because no one lives near it!
Are you ready for your trip of a lifetime? Read on to get local insider information about the top windsurf spots in New Zealand not to miss. Alternatively, if you want more local insight and a higher chance to get on the water, consider joining one of our famous all-inclusive Surfari Trips, which take you to the best secret spots off the beaten track!
In this windsurf spot guide we give you an idea of where to go and what season to pick. It acts as an overview and you can find more detailed spot descriptions in various blogposts. For the exact GPS location, preferred tides and best wind direction along with accommodation suggestions, sign up to our Detailed Spotguides.
All the windsurf spots in this guide here are easily accessible, offer reliable wind without extensive local knowledge and there will usually be a few other windsurfers, kiters or wing foilers on the water for good company and a shared experience. There are plenty more spots around, go and get out there!
Note: Apart from a few windsurfing schools, there are no local rental centers for windsurf equipment in New Zealand.
The Best Season for a Windsurf Trip to New Zealand
The South Island is generally too cold in winter to consistently enjoy a good session on the water, however the North Island, especially the upper half, offers warm enough temperatures to enjoy watersports all year round. While the wind is often wild and blustery in winter, you can get some good sessions around Auckland and Northland during the months of May – September. The best season for a windy windsurf road trip in New Zealand is definitely springtime (October – December). Frontal systems cross New Zealand in quick succession providing plenty of wind in most areas.
Early summer (January, February) is when the thermal winds take over from the frontal winds. They are usually lighter but also more steady. That’s when the inland lakes in the South Island put their best foot forward.
The months of late March to May are often characterised by calm and beautiful sunny weather with not much wind. This time of year is great for hiking and biking, not so much for our wind powered watersports.
Apart from a few windsurfing schools, there are no local rental centers for windsurf equipment in New Zealand.
Did you know that we not only tell you where the best swindsurf spots are, but also offer premium rental equipment from Starboard and Severne? Enjoy the freedom to travel and windsurf New Zealand without being tied to a specific spot or the hassle of bringing your own gear.
Beginner friendly windsurf spots
If you are at the beginning of your windsurfing journey and want to get out on the water down-under, we highly recommend to go to a place where someone is keeping an eye out for you, aka a dedicated windsurfing school. Chances are you are not bringing your own equipment, which will limit you naturally to those spots.
Auckland, Lake Pupuke: A small freshwater lake on the North Shore, home to Madloop Windsurfing School. It can be crowded, but the water is nice and flat and lessons and gear rental is available.
Auckland, Point Chevalier: A nice and safe inner harbour spot that works in most wind directions. Low tide makes for a longer walk across the reef, but the water is beautiful flat in a SW wind.
Tauranga Harbour: Kulim Park and Fergusson Park are your best spots as a beginner as the water is shallow unless you are in the channel. There is no rental place, though you can join the Tauranga Windsports Club and benefit of their program.
Nelson: The Nelson Yacht Club is a good spot for a beginner windsurfer, as you can rent gear, get a lesson and rescue boats are available.
Christchurch: The Estuary is beautiful flat and shallow for a long distance. Unfortunately this means windsurfing is limited around the high tide, otherwise there is no water. Aim to go there in an Easterly wind, Northwest can be pretty rough. Pacific Fleet windsurfing offers lessons and rental gear to their club members.
The best flatwater blasting spots
If you are looking for bump and jump and flatwater conditions, New Zealand is an absolute windsurf heaven. Countless harbours along the East and West Coast of both the North and South Island offer fantastic windsurfing conditions. Then add the bigger inland lakes, and you have both, freshwater and salt water options. Most of the above mentioned beginner friendly spots are also great for some flat water blasting when the wind gets up. Here are our top picks for bump and jump windsurfing in New Zealand:
Far North, Rangiputa: One of the best places to windsurf in winter in New Zealand, as it is always warmer here than anywhere else. The white sandy beach and crystal clear water makes you think you are in Fiji. Look at our Detailed Spotguide to see the exact parking location, emergency exit if the tide rips you around the corner and what wind direction works best.
Auckland, Whangaparaoa Peninsula: Jutting out into the Pacific Ocean, the Whangaparaoa Peninsula offers countless spots for nearly any wind direction. The most popular ones are Shakespear Bay (SW wind), Manly (anything with North in it) and Army Bay (NW). Army Bay can get a few waves too.
Taupo, Wharewhaka Point: You can find epic lake sailing only a few minutes out of Taupo. A SW wind builds across all of lake Taupo and can create a decent chop if strong enough – fantastic ramps to get some air!
Nelson, Backbeach: A very tide dependent spot, best sailed with wind against tide. The water is flatter at lower tide when the sand bar is exposed. In summer the sea breeze often kicks in early afternoon and makes for nice sailing on bigger gear.
Christchurch, Lyttelton Harbour: An ancient caldera, Lyttelton Harbour is known for its reliable sea breezes in summer and is one of the top wing foil and windsurf spots around Christchurch. Despite being the main port for Christchurch, Lyttelton is only a small village and the backdrop is stunning.
Queenstown, Jardines: Jardines is a fantastic spot a few kilometers south of Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu. It is situated in the prestigious suburb of Jacks Point and the go-to spot for the Southerly thermals in summer.
Do you want to know more about the different spots?
Join the Water Nomads Community and get instant access to precise GPS Coordinates, Optimal Wind Directions for Every Spot, Information about Local Hazards and Preferred Tide Times.
Our Detailed Spotguide is your essential companion for a successful NZ road trip, giving you local insider information about a wide variety of spots across the country. Stop guessing, join the community!
The top windsurf wave sailing spots
New Zealand offers a wide range of conditions for wave sailing. From big sandy onshore bays to hardcore cross-offshore reef breaks – there is something for everyone. Apart from the main spots around the bigger cities, none of the places will be busy. The locals are friendly and welcoming, as long as you respect them. Play by the rules and you will be more than welcome and might even get shown a secret spot or two.
Far North, Tokerau: This big sandy bay on the Karikari Peninsula captures any wind from the east. Pick your access point along the bay depending on the exact wind direction in relation to the beach you want and what size waves you are happy with. A shallow entry makes it a super forgivable spot. At most, you get washed back onto the beach….
Auckland, Orewa: Similar to Tokerau in the sense that is a big sandy bay. However, the wind is often directly onshore which can make it difficult to get out. Head to Hatfields Beach a few kilometers north for a flater entry.
Taranaki: The Taranaki region is famous for its worldclass waves with cross-offshore winds. Place names like Waitara, Weld Road or Pungarehu make every wave sailors heart beat faster. SH 45 (aka the Surf Highway) follows the 270 degrees coastline, which offers a perfect spot for any wind direction. Clean empty waves make the area an absolute dream for any experienced wave rider, though the rocky entry points can be intimidating and easily turn into a nightmare if you are lacking experience. Local knowledge is definitely an advantage to find the correct spot and pick the right tide.
We created an overview for Taranaki to give you a better idea where to find the best conditions. Or join one of our Surfari Trips to get all the expert local knowledge and be sure someone keeps an eye on you when you’re on the water.
Wellington, Plimmerton: This spot is located only a 30 minutes drive north of Wellington at the entrance of the Porirua Harbour. It offers fantastic easy wave sailing as you don’t need to get across breaking waves but rather can access them from the side (either from Plimmerton or Whitirea). However, it is one of the windiest places of mainland New Zealand, be prepared and bring small gear! Find the exact GPS coordinates for the launch spot in our Detailed Spotguide, plus all necessary information about wind and tide.
South Coast, South Island: The area between Bluff and Tuatapere is generally known as the South Coast. Being exposed to the wild Antarctic winds and Southern Ocean swells, this area offers great opportunities for wind and waves. Places like Oreti Beach, Colac Bay and Monkey Island are well known as wave sailing spots and provide you with epic conditions when it’s on. With a sound judgement, there is plenty to explore!
Local Knowledge is Hard to Execute Solo
You know where to go now, but do you know where to stay, how to get your gear there, and who to call when the forecast changes? Our Surfari Trips are all-inclusive, expertly guided, and run on pure local knowledge—all you do is show up and ride.
Explore Beyond the Map
This windsurfing spotguide will give you a good idea about easy accessible windsurf spots for your road trip. Though for us, the true magic of New Zealand lies off in the lesser known, off-the-beaten track spots. And in those spots, that are legendary, but too remote to be frequented regularly. Pristine places, where you are wondering, if those waters have been sailed before.
Do you want to discover these truely “secret spots”? Join one of our Surfari Trips. We handle the complex logistics, provide expert condition analysis, and lead you directly to our favourite uncrowded gems. Plus you will make a whole bunch of new friends. Click here to secure your Spot on a Surfari Trip!
If you prefer to plan your own mission, get the competitive advantage. Maximise your time on the water with our premium rental equipment and Detailed Spotguides to a wide variety of windsurf locations across New Zealand.
New Zealand is a windsurfing destination defined by pure, uncrowded potential. With all the information at your fingertips, the only thing left to do is pack your gear, chase the wind, and experience the best of Aotearoa. See you on the water!
Looking to travel New Zealand? Check out Water Nomads for Watersports Rental and Surfari Trips!
