Best time to kitesurf Ruakākā – Bream Bay

The best time to kitesurf at Ruakākā – Bream Bay is January–March, October–December, the well-known local wind season, with water around 20°C.

Ruakākā, Northland, New Zealand

Sports: Kitesurfing, Surfing

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

Ruakākā lies at the northern end of Bream Bay on Northland's east coast, about 30 minutes' drive south of Whangārei and two hours north of Auckland. The beach is part of a 13 km sweep of white sand facing east-south-east, with Whangārei Heads on the skyline to the north-east. There is parking near the surf life saving club, which patrols the beach in summer.

Kitesurfers use the long, open beach in winds from north-east round through east to south, onshore to cross-shore, which bring chop and small waves; local riders say it needs about 12 knots to get going and is best from about 18. There is plenty of room, but rig and land on the hard sand near the water and never fly over the dunes. Surfers find beach-break peaks along the bay in an east to north-east swell, cleanest with a west to north-west wind, which blows offshore; the prevailing easterly makes the surf messy on many days, the same days the kiters like.

The Ruakākā River mouth is a wildlife refuge where New Zealand dotterels and variable oystercatchers breed and godwits feed, so keep well away from it with your kite, and watch the strong current there on the outgoing tide. Rips form along the beach: learners should stay near the patrolled area by the surf club, between the flags. The water is about 15 °C in August and 22 °C in February: a 4/3 in winter, a 3/2 or a shorty in summer. Whangārei Hospital is about 35 km away.

Month by month at Ruakākā – Bream Bay

January: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 21°C, air 23°C (nights 17°C), 27 sunny days, 15 rainy days
February: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 22°C, air 24°C (nights 17°C), 25 sunny days, 11 rainy days
March: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 21°C, air 22°C (nights 15°C), 28 sunny days, 10 rainy days
April: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.8 m, water 20°C, air 20°C (nights 15°C), 23 sunny days, 16 rainy days
May: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 18°C, air 18°C (nights 13°C), 26 sunny days, 11 rainy days
June: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 17°C, air 16°C (nights 11°C), 24 sunny days, 13 rainy days
July: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 15°C, air 15°C (nights 10°C), 25 sunny days, 13 rainy days
August: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 15°C, air 15°C (nights 9°C), 25 sunny days, 13 rainy days
September: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 15°C, air 17°C (nights 10°C), 26 sunny days, 13 rainy days
October: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 16°C, air 18°C (nights 11°C), 27 sunny days, 13 rainy days
November: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1 m, water 18°C, air 21°C (nights 13°C), 26 sunny days, 16 rainy days
December: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 20°C, air 23°C (nights 15°C), 27 sunny days, 15 rainy days