Best time to kitesurf Hawks Nest – Jimmy's Beach
The best time to kitesurf at Hawks Nest – Jimmy's Beach is January, with about 14 windy days a month (15+ knots) and water around 23°C.
Hawks Nest, New South Wales, Australia
Sports: Kitesurfing, Wingfoiling, Windsurfing
Best time to go: January
Jimmy's Beach runs along the north shore of Port Stephens at Hawks Nest, about three hours' drive north of Sydney, facing south across the sheltered bay towards Nelson Bay. Because the water is inside the bay, it stays flat to choppy even when the open coast is rough, which has made it a favourite flat-water spot for windsurfers, including slalom racing, as well as for kiters and wingers.
Two wind seasons matter. From about November to March a north-easterly sea breeze of 10 to 20 knots blows on many afternoons; it is offshore here, but the water stays only about a metre deep for the first hundred metres, so many riders still use it with care. From June to September winter westerlies and south-westerlies blow down the length of Port Stephens and arrive stronger and steadier at Jimmy's Beach than at the nearby spots. Southerly winds are gusty because of the land on the Nelson Bay side and are best avoided. The bottom is sand, the beach is long and easy to launch from, and the bay suits beginners in light winds and fast riders in strong ones; watch for boats and swimmers near the beach access points.
Month by month at Hawks Nest – Jimmy's Beach
- January: 14 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 23°C, air 27°C (nights 20°C), 29 sunny days, 14 rainy days
- February: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 23°C, air 27°C (nights 20°C), 24 sunny days, 14 rainy days
- March: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 2 m, water 22°C, air 26°C (nights 19°C), 26 sunny days, 14 rainy days
- April: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 2.2 m, water 22°C, air 23°C (nights 15°C), 27 sunny days, 14 rainy days
- May: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 2.2 m, water 21°C, air 20°C (nights 13°C), 26 sunny days, 16 rainy days
- June: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 2 m, water 19°C, air 18°C (nights 9°C), 26 sunny days, 7 rainy days
- July: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 2.2 m, water 18°C, air 17°C (nights 9°C), 27 sunny days, 11 rainy days
- August: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 18°C, air 19°C (nights 10°C), 28 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- September: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 19°C, air 22°C (nights 12°C), 27 sunny days, 9 rainy days
- October: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 2 m, water 20°C, air 24°C (nights 14°C), 26 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- November: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 21°C, air 25°C (nights 16°C), 28 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- December: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 22°C, air 27°C (nights 18°C), 29 sunny days, 10 rainy days
Kitesurfing in Australia: January
When is the best time to go kitesurfing, wingfoiling & windsurfing at Hawks Nest – Jimmy's Beach?
January, when it is windy most often.
How warm is the water at Hawks Nest – Jimmy's Beach?
18°C to 23°C over the year: a shorty or lycra in the warmest month, a 4/3 full suit in the coolest.
How windy is Hawks Nest – Jimmy's Beach?
About 97 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in January.
Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).
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Spots near Hawks Nest – Jimmy's Beach
- Sydney – Manly Beach (149 km)
- Sydney Harbour – Rose Bay (157 km)
- Sydney – Bondi Beach (158 km)
- Crescent Head (183 km)
More: All spots in Australia · Kitesurfing in Australia · Wingfoiling in Australia · Windsurfing in Australia
Compare with: Hawks Nest – Jimmy's Beach vs Sydney Harbour – Rose Bay