Shoal Bay

A well-known North Shore flat-water spot on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, 10 minutes from the city, popular with local schools for teaching thanks to large shallow areas in prevailing SW wind.

beginnerflat water

Direct view of Little Shoal Bay from a nearby reserve, 65m away — Bjankuloski06 / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Closest reserve viewpoint overlooking the bay area — Bjankuloski06 / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Wind

best months	Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
season notes	spring to early autumn is most reliable
avg knots	12-20
direction to shore	best in SW, W, NW

Water

type	flat
tides	ideal 3.5 hours either side of high tide; the launch spot is revealed roughly 30 minutes either side of dead high tide
standing depth	large shallow areas suited to teaching

Levels

beginner	yes
intermediate	yes
advanced	no
notes	used by local schools (e.g. Wings & Waves) for beginner lessons thanks to safe, shallow flat water

Launch & crowd

description	street parking and a grassy verge for pumping kites; no toilets or changing facilities
vibe	local flat-water spot, used by University of Auckland Kitesurf Club

Hazards

harbour boat traffic

Tips

time your session around high tide - low tide can leave insufficient water
check before dead-high tide as the launch area needs ~30 min either side to be usable

Travel basics

airport	AKL Auckland International Airport
getting there	10 minutes from central Auckland on the North Shore near Takapuna/Northcote
accommodation	stay in Auckland city or North Shore suburbs
cost level	mid
no wind	Auckland city sightseeing, Takapuna beach and cafes

Nearby: St Heliers, Shakespeare Regional Park

Sources: se.kiteforum.com · wingsandwaves.co.nz · uoakite.com