Where to Kite?

The interactive map below show’s some of the main kite spots in South Australia, if you have some other recommendations, let us know!

Adelaide Metro Beaches

The map below shows the different zones on the Adelaide coastline, please respect the council by laws and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s restrictions.

North Haven Beach (between Outer Harbour and North Haven Marina): N/NW, S/SW
KSA/KA permit required

  • Commonly known as “the Wall”, North Haven beach is a Winter favourite with howling northerlies and glass flat water behind the breakwall. It does also work with the summer southerly breezes however leave room downwind as kites and breakwalls do not mix.
  • KSA holds a Licence for its members issued by the Port Adelaide Enfield Council to kite at this beach. This area was traditionally under the jurisdiction of Transport SA, however the Port Adelaide Enfield now controls this beach and under the new bylaws, the Council can and will fine any kiter not wearing a KSA tag.

Largs Bay: SW/W/N
KSA/KA permit required

  • This is an ideal area for learners. Shallow, generally not too choppy and has heaps of room downwind. There is also an abundance of room for launching as the beach is rarely populated by other water users and there’s very few obstructions like roads, cars, powerlines etc.
  • Good for SW seabreezes in summer but dies out first if the seabreeze gets some east in it. Generally flatter water than on some other northern beaches as it takes a long time to get deep here. The curved shape of these beaches allows for safe landings after exhausting runs (or equipment breakages). You are almost guaranteed of being blown back onto the beach, but be prepared for a walk back up-wind.
  • Good in Northerly with clean airflow down the beach providing uninterrupted wind. Great if North Haven is too offshore or too crowded!
  • KSA holds a Licence for its members issued by the Port Adelaide Enfield Council to kite at this beach and under the new bylaws, the Council can and will fine any kiter not wearing a KSA tag.
  • Stay north of the Largs Bay Sailing Club and you’ll be fine.

Semaphore: SW/W/N
KSA/KA permit required

  • Previously this was a restricted zone, however the Port Adelaide Enfield Council has given KSA a permit to ride along this coast for all KSA members.

Chicken Shop (Mirani Court, West Lakes Shore. Note, there is no actual chicken shop anymore) S/SW/W
No restrictions (marine laws apply)

  • This is an ideal location in summer, which tends to host the windiest seabreezes along the entire metro coastline. The chicken shop will still crank a strong breeze till it is dark, even if it swings a touch SE. Good grass rigging up area. The waves are often a bit choppy here as the wind has stayed strong all day but you can get some great jumps here. It is also popular with swimmers on lighter wind days, so take care not to kite near the swimmers and beach users.

Grange: S/SW
No restrictions (marine laws apply)

  • Similar to Chicken shop but it has slightly less beach when the wind is up. It’s generally less populated than Henley South. It can drop out if it swings south easterly in the evenings during summer but there’s lots of beach access there and plenty of spots to ride

Henley Beach South (Gilmore Street to Burbridge Road): S/SW
No restrictions (marine laws apply)

West Beach to Somerton Park: N/A
No restrictions (marine laws apply)

MIDCOAST (advanced riders only) S/N depending on location

Just 40 minutes south of Adelaide on the coast ”the Mid” has several top spots between Southport and Moana to ride in proper reef swells and good winds. These spots work best anytime in winter when the strong northerlies blow or in the southerlies during summer. Beware of the walk up and down the paths to the water and the sharp reef. This area of coastline is a popular spot for surfers. Try avoid kiting on the breaks which the surfers are using where possible. Generally when we are out there the surfers will be on only one of two breaks, so that leaves us plenty of places to kite. This is also a popular windsurfing spot so please respect them as you would another kiter. Avoid jumping near them and flying your kite low around them. If you are unsure of the right of way rules in the surf zone, ask one of the crew in the area and they will give you the run down. If you plan on riding freestyle in this area, Moana and Southport are better spots for this style of riding. Moana and Southport are the only sandy beaches in this area

South Coast

Victor Harbour (kent reserve): SE/SW

  • KENT RESERVE Rule#1: Respect the locals. They’ve worked hard to keep  beach access.
  • Great for more experienced riders. It is great for any winds Southwest to Southeast. Sometimes it can pick up a bit extra wind during a cool change (frontal weather) because it is further south than Adelaide. Don’t ride here alone.

Goolwa Beach: SE/SW

  • A busy beach with plenty of small breaks it’s worth moving east along the coast a bit to stay clear of swimmers and surfers. Even better, if you have a 4WD, head down onto the beach and find your own uninterrupted water. Good wave riding out the back in SE and SW winds but the more S (onshore) it gets, the sloppier it gets and it becomes hard work. Better off stuffing down a pie from the local bakeries.

Kitesurfing S.A’s Southeast

If you are prepared to do a bit of driving and have some patience you will be rewarded with some epic wave kiting days. Here are a few places to head.

Robe: SE/SW

  • The 4 hour drive south to Robe is well worth the effort in summer as it is a prime summer wave kiting spot. The bay is curved so you can kitesurf anywhere along the coast to get sideshore conditions. The swell is big, clean and predictable and works best in SE – SW winds. 3rd Ramp is about 10km north of the town and this is the main kitesurfing or surfing spot. You can drive up the dirt road off the main highway in any car, or if you have a 4WD you could drive along the beach from the main town beach (1st Ramp). This is also the location of our Easter Comp too. Be there! Party on!

Beachport (Rivoli Bay Beach): W

  • This beach works if Robe is too onshore in a westerly breeze. The water is very clean and crisp with a sandy bottom and some good swells. It is about ½ hour drive south of Robe and also has a big salt water lake (lake George) in the back of Beachport if you just want to blast on some flat water.

Kitesurfing S.A. Inland Lakes & Rivers

Being near the Murray River we have lots of freshwater spots to kitesurf and most are within 1-hour drive from the city. Most places have a better wind direction but in the relatively protected waters of a lake you are always fairly safe.

Milang: SE/NE

  • Located on Lake Alexandrina between Goolwa and Strathalbyn this freshwater lake is huge (45km across!,) it is generally slightly windier than Goolwa with much less congested water. It works between S, E & N winds but westerlies are offshore and dangerous. With the retreat of water levels, there is more launch area than most beaches, plus a grassed area north of the jetty with hot showers!
  • Milang is ever reliable in summer for perfect SE seabreezes and has glass flat water behind the sandbar. It can be shallow in spots and you can’t see any obstructions under the water (including sandbars) so stick to the channel that runs NE from the end of the jetty.
  • Unlike Boggy, there is plenty of beach to come downwind on so good for beginners and you can touch the bottom in most spots within 400m of the coast. Beginners should take extra precautions to maximise bouyancy however as Lake Alexandrina can get very choppy and you don’t want to be stuck out there; It’s a long swim back so don’t go out too far on your own.
  • There is a caravan park there behind the launch area which allows cheap camping etc. Also a weather station (similar to Boggy) is hopefully going to be available soon.

Boggy Lake (UPWIND RIDERS ONLY): SE/E

  • Found by some local Murray Bridge windsurfers in the early 90’s its popularty soared. It is a bit hard to find on your own but if you head through the hills or from Strathalbyn to Langhorne Creek. 17km from Langhorne Creek head toward Wellington is a patch of water on your right. This is it! Through the gate or just follow all the cars in the area with the roof racks loaded with gear. It is just a paddock next to a lake with no facilities at all but it does have flatwater and the strongest most consistent wind in nearly any wind direction.
  • A farmer owns the land but he will let wind/kitesurfers in there on a few rules.
    1. No Dogs
    2. No burnouts or speeding
    3. No Litter
    4. Lock the gate every time
    5. No hassling the sheep or cows!
    6. Fires OK depending on Fire Season Restrictions
  • Camping up there is common. The rigging area is fine for windsurfers but very tricky for kites. Definitely NOT ideal for LEARNERS. For the flat water junkies, sail upwind to the speed strip next to the reeds on the south shore. It does not get any better. There is usually a big crowd there on the weekends. If you cannot stay upwind yet on a kite then Boggy is not very good because there is NO beach to come in downwind.

Goolwa Lake: SE/SW

  • Previously a stalwart location for Sailboarding, it’s extremely shallow except in the channel. Any southerly breeze works although it can be gusty. Probably better to enter from the Hindmarsh Island side as there’s less of a walk!

Yorke Peninsula

Flat water on the eastern side, swell down the bottom, and some bounce on the west coast, Yorkes has it all.

YORKE’S EAST COAST

  • When the breeze has genuine east in it, this coast can be gold. Heaps of launch area and shallow water the whole way down the coast, Pt Clinton to Edithburgh can deliver. Pack your booties and beware of razorfish and crabs if you’re at the northern beaches. Southern beaches are all good with Sultana Point  working on all east to southerly directions.

YORKE’S SOUTH COAST

  • Along the South Coast Rd, there is limited access to Waterloo, Sturt, and Foul Bays and launching can be difficult if weed builds up but it’s definitely ridable in Southerly winds. Marion Bay (inside the head) in a SW can be glass even if there’s swell hitting Innes NP.
  • Pondalowie Bay professes some epic sessions but can be fickle on wind directions and it’s a long way to find no wind. You can try Browns Beach or Formby Bay but be prepared to hike your gear and pack the surfboard as a backup. Haven’t heard much about kiting sessions at Corny Pt or Berry Bay, but love to hear if guys ride there. Either way, plenty of swell can kick up.

YORKE’S WEST COAST

  • Hardwick Bay is worth checking out, as is Pt Victoria and the hard to find “Chinaman’s Well” if it’s a solid Northerly in winter. It’s been known to be windless on the East Coast and a half hour away on the West coast it’s blowing a 15knot northerly across dead flat water much to the delight of freestylers.
  • Heading up to Main Beach at Pt Hughes, Moonta Bay and Wallaroo, SW up to NE can work and is becoming pretty popular. You can get a pretty mean mugaccino at the Moonta Bay cafe by the jetty and it’s a wind omen…
  • Tickera, Pt Broughton and Fisheran’s Bay have had mixed reports but there’s plenty of beach and shallow water around plus multiple wind angles to work with in the right conditions.

The whole way up the West Coast (and all or Yorke’s) there are worthwhile spots. Best way is to just go and check it out.

Eyre Peninsula and Spencer Gulf

A massive area and heaps of spots. Report to be written soon. If any locals want to write their own location review, flick it through to us!