Best time to kitesurf Ōreti Beach

The best time to kitesurf at Ōreti Beach is September–October, with about 16 windy days a month (15+ knots) and water around 11°C.

Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand

Sports: Kitesurfing, Surfing, Parawing

Best time to go: September–October

Ōreti Beach is a 26 km sweep of sand on the Foveaux Strait coast of Southland, between the Aparima River at Riverton and the Ōreti River estuary, about 10 km west of Invercargill. The main access is at the end of Dunns Road, and Sandy Point lies at the southern end. Cars are allowed on the sand with a 30 km/h speed limit; this is where Burt Munro practised on his Indian motorcycle. Oreti Surf Life Saving Club patrols weekend afternoons from late November to late March.

Southland is windy, and Ōreti is known among kiters for strong westerlies, often well over 25 knots, so small kites are the norm. Here a westerly blows onshore to cross-onshore, a north-westerly is more cross-shore, and the water is choppy with waves. For surfing, it is an exposed beach break with lefts and rights that is usually best in a west to south swell with an offshore easterly or south-easterly wind, around mid tide; it works only now and then, but it is rarely crowded.

This is a spot for intermediate and experienced riders. Rips are common, sharks live in these waters, and you share the sand with cars, so launch and land away from traffic and the patrolled swimming area. Help is close in Invercargill. The water is about 10 °C in August and 16 °C in February: a 5/4 or 6/5 with boots, gloves and a hood in winter, a 4/3 with boots in summer.

Month by month at Ōreti Beach

January: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 16°C, air 18°C (nights 11°C), 25 sunny days, 14 rainy days
February: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 16°C, air 18°C (nights 11°C), 25 sunny days, 14 rainy days
March: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.8 m, water 16°C, air 17°C (nights 10°C), 24 sunny days, 16 rainy days
April: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 14°C, air 15°C (nights 9°C), 20 sunny days, 15 rainy days
May: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 13°C, air 13°C (nights 7°C), 16 sunny days, 15 rainy days
June: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 11°C, air 10°C (nights 4°C), 16 sunny days, 14 rainy days
July: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 10°C, air 10°C (nights 4°C), 15 sunny days, 15 rainy days
August: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 10°C, air 11°C (nights 4°C), 22 sunny days, 16 rainy days
September: 16 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 11°C, air 12°C (nights 6°C), 24 sunny days, 20 rainy days
October: 16 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 12°C, air 14°C (nights 7°C), 23 sunny days, 20 rainy days
November: 13 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 13°C, air 16°C (nights 8°C), 26 sunny days, 16 rainy days
December: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 15°C, air 17°C (nights 10°C), 25 sunny days, 18 rainy days