Shallow water for ages. Flat or small chop. This is a high tide ONLY beach. At low tide you will need to walk at least 10km from the beach to get to the waters edge. There is heaps of space once out from the beach.
Beach is pretty uninspiring. It has lots of rubbish including old cars on occasions. Quite a dodgy spot too. Don't come here alone. And the launch isn't the safest. Get it wrong and your kite will catch the electric fence. But you can launch from the water.
Water temp ranges from 10°C to over 30°C. Air temp averages 25°C in summer and 15°C in winter but in conditions suited to this spot expect it to sometimes get down to 10°C. In lighter (and very steady) thermal conditions you certainly will not need a wetsuit as the sun heats the shallow water to bath temperature. But in strong isobaric winds a wetsuit is recommended.
This place works MINT for anything strong from the west quarter. WNW, W, WSW or SW are epic at this beach. And there is no shortage of strong roaring forties winds from this direction during spring (September to December). Other times of the year are less impressive but still good kiting to be had here especially during winter (not quite the standard of spring though). Winds can reach over 30 knots here and this place is less windy then the other Auckland beaches...and tonnes less gusty. Very open here so clean wind. Wind speeds vary here from 15 knots in thermals to 35 knots in spring roaring forties trade winds.
Only 3km to the side of the airport so drive northwards on Georgebolt Memorial Drive and take the first turn left into Ihumateo Rd (be careful as it's easy to miss). Drive down Ihumateo Rd till you get to the end. At the end there will be a farmhouse, lots of paddocks and a cattle stop at the start of a dirt road. Follow the dirt road till you get to a gravel car park, remember to close the gates after you. Once you get to the car park walk down the dirt path to get to the beach.
Please remember to close the gates after you. Also do not come here alone and lock your car. The cattle stops are there for a reason too...watch for cattle. Most importantly make sure you get your launch right as that electric fence behind isn't there for show. Once on the water get away from the shoreline as there are some nasty looking poles sticking out. However not much in the way of rocks so booties aren't really required. No currents here so not the typical dangers associated with other Manukau spots.
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