In the graphs it shows that even on a crappy day for wind, Rotto will still be kicking 15 knots over. I've never been there for kiting and in my visits there I also can't recall seeing a lot of kiters.

How is Rotto for kiting and is there any specific bays that are the best? any reefs and currents that you need to steer clear of?

Had a couple of good sessions at Little Salmon bay, the ride there is half the adventure!

Edit: Salmon, not little salmon. Derr.

Generally not for the inexperienced with lots of reefs and can be very unforgiving but that being said it's a great place to kite if you are staying on the island. I have had some very good sessions there.

Access can be tricky and better if you have a boat/tender and/or a bike and kite carrying trailer.



I believe the wind readings are from the top of the lighthouse so they do read higher than what it really is for kiting.



Bickley Bay is a fairly safe and accessible place to kite, just need to be careful that you have room/time to come in or get out past natural jetty if your sesh goes pear shaped. Wind has holes in it at the SW end of the beach, generally best to try and stay in the middle of the bay.



Salmon Bay is probably the pick of the bays on a SWer especially when the swell is up.



The beach is narrow and can be very narrow when the tide is high and the swell up. Walk along the beach (100m) and launch/land the kite in the clearing between the dunes. Like a lot of Rotto the wind on the beach is gusty/swirly due to the topography so the launch in particular can be entertaining.



The main part of the bay is flat water and safe as no shore reef, as you go west the waves get better but the shore is mostly reef and worse still cliffs so don't stuff up. If you are a beginner always make sure you have clear beach downwind of you.



Transit Reef
Rig and launch from Bickley bay in the south or Pinkies in the north depending on the wind direction. Recommend you have a mate with a boat to offer support when out there as getting back can be an issue especially if something goes wrong.

Northern reefs – I haven't kited any of these yet as it is rarely a Northerly wind when I am there but last week I did cycle along past Catherine bay and the waves out there looked sensational for kiting.



There are lots of beach areas where you can rig and launch from but beware of moorings and boats and all of the bays have outer reefs which you need to take care when crossing or navigating your way out. Again definitely not for the inexperienced.

If you're staying at Rotto it is well worth taking the kite gear along.

i cycled for many km when others gave up way back, and sweated soooo hard with 20kg of kit and epic fail unfortunately :-( kited the corner in cross off though suuuuuper dodgy if anything goes wrong just out with the wildlife with no way back.

Slack said...


Access can be tricky and better if you have a boat/tender and/or a bike and kite carrying trailer.

Slkac, and chance I can get some more picks of that trolley, say without the gear on it. Its exactly what I have been looking at making o that I can ride my bike to work and do a down winder back home.