Best time to kitesurf Lake Clearwater

The best time to kitesurf at Lake Clearwater is January–April, October–December, the season of the local thermal wind.

Mount Somers, Canterbury (Ashburton Lakes), New Zealand

Sports: Kitesurfing, Wingfoiling, Windsurfing, Parawing

Best time to go: January–April, October–December

Lake Clearwater (Te Puna-a-Taka) lies at 667 m in a wide tussock valley at the head of the Ashburton River, in the Hakatere Conservation Park in Mid Canterbury. The access point is about 38 km beyond Mount Somers, and the last half of the road is unsealed gravel. A small village of holiday huts sits between Lake Clearwater and the smaller Lake Camp. There are no shops, so bring what you need from Mount Somers. The lake covers about 2 km² and is up to 19 m deep.

Wind funnelled off the surrounding mountains makes the lake known for windsurfing, kitesurfing and wing foiling. On summer afternoons an easterly often fills in from about 2 to 3 pm and can blow until 8 or 9 pm, around 20 knots on flat water; the north-westerlies are stronger, colder and gusty, raise a chop and often blow 30 knots or more. Mornings are often calm. The main season runs from spring to autumn.

Lake Clearwater is a wildlife refuge managed by the Department of Conservation: only wind-powered craft are allowed (motorboats use Lake Camp across the road), dogs are not allowed, and parts of the shore where the great crested grebe nests are fenced and signposted, so keep well away and read the signs before you launch. It is remote, with little help nearby, so ride with someone and expect fast changes in mountain weather. Fresh water gives less float than the sea. The water is cold outside high summer, and the lake froze over in the winter of 1992: a 4/3 or 5/4 is wise for most of the season. Check, clean and dry your gear between waterways.

Month by month at Lake Clearwater

January: windy season (local thermal wind), air 19°C (nights 9°C), 26 sunny days, 13 rainy days
February: windy season (local thermal wind), air 18°C (nights 9°C), 22 sunny days, 11 rainy days
March: windy season (local thermal wind), air 17°C (nights 8°C), 25 sunny days, 9 rainy days
April: windy season (local thermal wind), air 15°C (nights 5°C), 23 sunny days, 12 rainy days
May: outside the windy season, air 12°C (nights 3°C), 22 sunny days, 10 rainy days
June: outside the windy season, air 8°C (nights 0°C), 19 sunny days, 14 rainy days
July: outside the windy season, air 7°C (nights -1°C), 20 sunny days, 11 rainy days
August: outside the windy season, air 8°C (nights -1°C), 23 sunny days, 12 rainy days
September: outside the windy season, air 11°C (nights 1°C), 26 sunny days, 14 rainy days
October: windy season (local thermal wind), air 13°C (nights 3°C), 26 sunny days, 13 rainy days
November: windy season (local thermal wind), air 16°C (nights 6°C), 26 sunny days, 13 rainy days
December: windy season (local thermal wind), air 18°C (nights 8°C), 26 sunny days, 17 rainy days

Kitesurfing in New Zealand: January, February, March, April, October, November, December

When is the best time to go kitesurfing, wingfoiling, windsurfing & parawing at Lake Clearwater?

January–April, October–December, when it is windy most often.

Figures from 4 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).

Spots near Lake Clearwater

More: All spots in New Zealand · Kitesurfing in New Zealand · Wingfoiling in New Zealand · Windsurfing in New Zealand · Parawing in New Zealand

Compare with: Lake Clearwater vs Lake Wānaka – Roys Bay · Lake Clearwater vs Christchurch – New Brighton

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