MapAustraliaTannum Sands BeachAustralia

Tannum Sands Beach

Queensland · Gladstone Region (Boyne Island / Tannum Sands)

also known as Main Beach Tannum Sands, Tannum Sands Main Beach

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

beginner-friendlylow crowds

On this page

The spot
Wind
Forecast
Month by month
Water
Level
The scene
Launch
Schools
Tips
Getting there
Photos
FAQ

Riding essentials

Season

Sep–Mar

Months riders and schools name

How windy

12-18 knots

Character: mixed

Room to launch

access rules on record, below

Water

mixed

27.4 °C in summer

Hazards

Reported by riders

Level

Beginner to advanced

With a caveat: see Your level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

Crowds

low crowds · busy January February March September

Schools

none named here

From the airport

30 min

Gladstone Airport (GLT)

When it fills in

Afternoons in summer for the reported sea-breeze pattern.

Tannum Sands Beach has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance

Backup spotsWhere riders go when the wind doesn't work here.

Tannum Sands - Boyne River Mouthno page yet
Lake Awoongano page yet
Fisherman's Beach, Emu Parkno page yet
Agnes Water / 1770no page yet

The spot

Tannum Sands is Gladstone's beach, 25-30 km southeast of town on the central Queensland coast, and it rides on the summer sea breeze: 12-18 knots most afternoons from September to March, E to SE on the good days.

Main Beach

NE is straight onshore at Main Beach, which is the kiteable stretch along Millennium Esplanade by the surf club. It is warm-water freeride and chop with small wind waves, not a wave spot; for flatter water the Boyne River Mouth works on the outgoing tide behind its sandbank.

Tides and hazards

The tide is big, up to 6 m. Low water exposes rock flats that split the beach in two and a 150 m bar, and the seaward flow at Wild Cattle Creek on a falling tide is the hazard nobody mentions until you are in it. Crocodiles have been sighted at Wild Cattle Creek, so keep the downwind wandering short.

Community

The local crew is small and friendly and the beach is patrolled at least some of the time; whether anyone is teaching here in 2026 is unconfirmed, so do not plan a first lesson around it.

The wind

Direction

cross-onNE

Direction to shore

cross-on

Dominant direction

NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE

Kite sizes

7891011121314151617

metres · typical quiver highlighted

The quiver, in words

For a 75-85 kg rider on the usual 12-18 kt afternoon sea breeze: 12 m at the bottom of it, 10-11 m through the middle, 9 m once it touches 20. Indicative from the wind figures; what the local crew actually rigs is not published anywhere.

Character

mixed

When it fills in: see above ↑

Average strength

The 2021-2026 all-weather average at Gladstone Radar is 15.7 km/h, about 8.5 knots; that is a station mean, not a kite-session average.

Typical strength

12-18 knots on the common summer afternoon sea breeze. A wider range of 12-20 knots easterly is also quoted, with a northerly around 18 knots the best of it.

Main Beach works best in E to SE, NW can work, and NE is directly onshore. Some days blow strong and gusty; look at the live readings and at who is on the water before rigging.

Windiest from September to March, with some rideable wind through winter. A forecast on its own does not confirm a rideable session here; the tide decides as much as the wind.

Forecast

Live forecast

Windguru Windfinder Windy

Month by month

Jan, riders' month29
Feb, riders' month49
Mar, riders' month32
Apr24
May28
Jun4
Jul16
Aug17
Sep, riders' month26
Oct, riders' month37
Nov, riders' month34
Dec, riders' month33

per cent of the month at force 4 or more

Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

10 ktJan28°
11 ktFeb29°
10 ktMar28°
10 ktApr26°
10 ktMay22°
8 ktJun21°
9 ktJul20°
9 ktAug21°
10 ktSep23°
11 ktOct24°
10 ktNov26°
10 ktDec28°

avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted

Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds.

Every figure, month by monthForce 4+ · Knots · Wind from · Air · Water

Month	Force 4+	Knots	Wind from	Air	Water
Jan	29%	10.1 kt	ESE	26 °C	28.3 °C
Feb	49%	10.9 kt	SE	26 °C	28.6 °C
Mar	32%	10.1 kt	SE	25.5 °C	27.9 °C
Apr	24%	9.9 kt	SE	23.1 °C	25.8 °C
May	28%	9.6 kt	SE	20.3 °C	22.4 °C
Jun	4%	7.6 kt	SE	17.8 °C	20.7 °C
Jul	16%	9 kt	SE	16.9 °C	19.8 °C
Aug	17%	9 kt	SE	18.5 °C	20.6 °C
Sep	26%	9.7 kt	SE	20.4 °C	22.5 °C
Oct	37%	10.5 kt	ESE	22.4 °C	24.3 °C
Nov	34%	10.1 kt	N	23.9 °C	26.3 °C
Dec	33%	10.3 kt	ESE	25.3 °C	27.6 °C

How this is modelledmodelled · 2022-2024

A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.

The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.

ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024

The water

Type

mixed

Standing depth

Tides and depthAt low tide a sand bar about 150 m wide sits in front of a 50 m high-tide beach, and it widens to roughly 300 m south toward Wild Cattle Creek, so you can walk a long way out.With a range up to 6 m the same ground is deep near high water, and no depth has been measured at any tide stage. The dependable smooth water is at the Boyne River Mouth behind the big eastern sandbank on the outgoing tide, where the middle of the channel holds enough depth to foil at any tide.

Tides

Large tidal range reported up to 6 m; low tide exposes rock flats and a 150 m low-tide bar, widening to about 300 m south of the camping reserve near Wild Cattle Creek.

Temperature

27.4 °C summer · 20.1 °C winter

Modelled monthly average: 20–29 °C

Wetsuit

Usually boardshorts/shorty in summer; a spring suit or light full suit may be useful in winter or windy sessions when monthly averages are around 19.6–20.8 °C.

Currents

Regular sweep along the beach; strong seaward tidal flow near Wild Cattle Creek on a falling tide.

Conditions

Relatively safe water, best at high tide, with Rodds Peninsula taking some of the southerly swell and average waves around 0.5 m. Main Beach is chop and small wind waves, not wave riding; the Boyne River Mouth nearby is smoother on the outgoing tide behind a sandbank.

Slightly brackish near the river and creek mouths, clearer farther out. At low tide the rock flats split the beach, so the tide sets both the usable water and the launch margin.

Your level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

Listings disagree on level: some say any level, others intermediate. It is a good progression beach, and the creek is shallow at mid-to-low tide, but nobody has confirmed a school assessment.

If you are on your own as a beginner, the direct onshore NE, the rock flats, the tidal flow at Wild Cattle Creek and the crocodiles are the reasons to be careful; supervision must be confirmed locally.

The scene

What riders come here for

freeridebump and jumpfoilingprogressionwarm-water sessions

Local rather than resort: a home beach for the Gladstone kiters and windsurfers, plus the wing riders, and the Tannum crew is friendly. Wild Cattle Island nearby is near-empty at low tide.

Launch and rules

three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you

With a school or a boat

No school names this spot

Nobody has been recorded teaching or running a boat here.

On your own

Room to launch: ok

Read the access rules

Somewhere else

No neighbour on record

No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.

Rescue

The surf lifesaving club sits in the reserve 200 m north of the creek mouth and patrols the flagged area from September to May; outside those months there is no patrol at all, and a 2026 notice showed no service running at the time it was checked.

Kite rescue does not exist here. The seaward flow at Wild Cattle Creek on a falling tide is the situation that would need one, so plan the exit before you ride down there.

Launch

Main Beach launch is the sandy beach along Millennium Esplanade near the surf lifesaving club and foreshore parking, with good parking, toilets, water, caravan/camping facilities, and a wide high-tide beach/low-tide bar, though low-tide rock flats divide the beach. Free public car parking runs along the foreshore. The launch/landing area is medium-size.

Hazards riders report 15 reported

Wind

Direct onshore NE wind at Main Beach
Sharks at the nearby Boyne River Mouth, with shark buoys offshore of Main Beach

Crowds and zones

The flagged patrolled swimming area is a no-go zone for kiteboarders from September to May

Bottom

Sand bars and shoals
A small visible rock patch midway along the beach

Waves and currents

Low-tide rock flats in the centre and northern part of the beach
Strong tidal currents and seaward flow near Wild Cattle Creek on falling tide
Low-tide rock flats in the centre and northern part of the beach, splitting the beach into an 800 m northern half and a 600 m southern half
Trees along the back of the beach and bystanders on the sand near the surf club

Other

Regular sweep along the beach
Marine stingers
Submerged objects
Estuarine/saltwater crocodile sightings reported for Wild Cattle Creek and Wild Cattle Beach
Sharks at the nearby Boyne River Mouth
Turtles and other marine life in surrounding waters

Rules & access

1 min read

2026: no kite-specific permit, zone or seasonal restriction is on record. The flagged swimming area at Main Beach is off limits to kiteboarders while it is patrolled, and the patrol runs September to May from the surf club in the reserve 200 m north of the creek mouth, so through winter there are no flags and nobody watching.

Council beach rules for 2026: no driving on the foredunes above the high-water mark or on the tidal flats, no fires, take all rubbish away, and dogs under effective voice command.

Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.

Schools that ride here

Rider tips

Check the tide with the wind: a falling tide at Wild Cattle Creek pushes hard seaward, so stay north of it late in the ebb.
Park along the foreshore on Millennium Esplanade, near the surf club, and ask whoever is rigging where the day's launch is; at low tide the rock flats split the beach.
Rig for E to SE; on a NE day Main Beach is dead onshore and the river mouth is the better call.
For flat water, ride the Boyne River Mouth on the outgoing tide, behind the sandbank.
Be croc-wise near Wild Cattle Creek and Wild Cattle Beach; a patrol on the main beach, when there is one, does not make the creek safe.
Confirm the patrol status and whether anyone is teaching here before you plan a beginner trip; the lesson situation for 2026 is unconfirmed.

Getting there

Airport

Gladstone Airport (GLT)

Route

Tannum Sands is 25-30 km southeast of Gladstone and around 10 km off the Bruce Highway; you want a car for the gear. From Gladstone Airport it is 26.4 km by road, about 26 minutes for the 24 km run from town by ride-share, and there is a bus with a transfer if you must.

Transfer

30 min

Cost level

medium

Staying

Discovery Parks - Tannum Sands on Millennium Esplanade is the beachfront base: cabins and caravan sites, a pool, laundry, a kiosk and direct beach access. There are other caravan parks and a beachfront camping reserve in the settlement.

No-wind days

Millennium Esplanade coastal walk, Wild Cattle Island at low tide with croc-wise caution, Lake Awoonga fishing/kayaking/picnic areas, Boyne River/Turtle Way cycling and walking, Agnes Water/1770 day trip, and Southern Great Barrier Reef/Heron Island excursions from Gladstone.

Photos

FAQ

When is the best time to kitesurf Tannum Sands Beach?

September to March is the windiest period, with summer afternoon sea breezes commonly reported around 12-18 knots.

Is Tannum Sands Beach suitable for beginners?

It is listed for all levels, but independent beginners should be cautious of direct onshore NE wind, low-tide rock flats and tidal flow near Wild Cattle Creek.

What is the wind like at Tannum Sands Beach?

Main Beach works best in E to SE breeze around 12-18 knots, while NE is directly onshore and less favored.

Are there rules at Tannum Sands Beach?

No kiteboarding-specific permit or restriction was verified for 2026, but Gladstone Regional Council beach rules ban vehicles on foredunes and tidal flats and require dogs under voice control.

What hazards should kitesurfers know about at Tannum Sands Beach?

Hazards include low-tide rock flats splitting the beach, strong seaward tidal flow near Wild Cattle Creek, marine stingers, and reported estuarine crocodile sightings at Wild Cattle Creek.

Last updated: August 2026