Orewa Beach

Orewa Beach is New Zealand's flagship learn-to-kite venue: 4km of open sandy beach 30 minutes north of Auckland, rideable on any tide, with full facilities right on the sand. It offers a mix of small waves and flat water depending on the tide, suiting everyone from first-timers to experienced freestylers.

beginnerintermediatefreeridewaves

walk along Orewa Beach — Kristina D.C. Hoeppner from Wellington, New Zealand / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

beach scene at Orewa — Kristina D.C. Hoeppner from Wellington, New Zealand / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

sculpture set on Orewa Beach — russellstreet / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Wind

best months	Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
season notes	Windiest in winter and spring; a reliable easterly window also tends to arrive around January 1st with the Pacific Island cyclone season.
avg knots	15-25
wind name	prevailing frontal NW/SW winds, best on N or NE onshore wind
direction to shore	onshore, best on N or NE
quality	steady in winter/spring, frontal in character
typical kite sizes	9-12m

Water

type	mixed - small waves near high tide, flat water near low tide
temp summer c	20
temp winter c	14
wetsuit	boardshorts or thin suit Dec-Mar, 3.2mm-4.3mm Jun-Aug
tides	rideable on any tide but low tide is preferable for flat water; waves are better about an hour after high tide (not dead high or dead low)
standing depth	yes, at low tide

Levels

beginner	yes
intermediate	yes
advanced	yes
notes	The long stretch of beach gives room for all levels to spread out and choose their own zone.

Launch & crowd

description	wide sandy beach with plenty of rigging room along the 4km stretch
busy months	Jun Jul Aug Sep
vibe	relaxed family beach town with an established kite community and a beachfront campground

Hazards

minor shorebreak at high tide
gusty frontal winds in winter
busy weekends with beachgoers in summer

Tips

ride flat water near low tide, waves about an hour after high tide
camp on the beachfront for early sessions
showers, toilets and BBQs are on site

Travel basics

airport	AKL Auckland Airport, about 25-45 min drive
getting there	rental car recommended - no direct public transit to the beach
accommodation	Orewa holiday park/campground on the beach, motels in town
cost level	mid
no wind	Waiwera hot pools, Auckland city day trips, Hibiscus Coast walks

Nearby: Eastern Beach, Mission Bay, St Heliers

Sources: iksurfmag.com · web.kite-and-windsurfing-guide.com · unplug-kitesurf.com