Sailing and kitesurfing in Auckland: Hauraki Gulf, Point Chevalier and Takapuna

Yes, Auckland works well from December to February, mostly for sailing and for moderate-wind kitesurfing and windsurfing. NIWA says sea breezes blow from November to March and that summer brings more north-easterly wind, while the Waitematā Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf give sheltered water close to the city. Expect steady rather than strong wind: an old local windsurf guide calls Auckland’s wind consistent but seldom very strong.

Facts as of November 2026, from the sources listed at the end of this page.

Is Auckland good for sailing in summer?

Yes. The Hauraki Gulf is sheltered on its eastern side by Great Barrier Island, the inner Gulf islands and the Coromandel Peninsula, which NIWA says makes it a popular area for maritime activities. Most of the Gulf lies inside the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Sea breezes come from the north-east on the east coast and from the south-west on the west coast. NIWA puts them under 20 km/h, about 11 knots. They weaken around 4 pm and stop between 5 and 10 pm, so plan longer sails for the middle of the day.

The big summer event is the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, raced on the Waitematā and Viaduct Harbours and in the Hauraki Gulf. It is called the world’s biggest one-day regatta and New Zealand’s oldest sporting event. The 2026 edition was on 26 January; the 2027 one is expected on Monday 1 February, Auckland Anniversary Day, but its notice of race was not yet published in November 2026.

Where can you kitesurf in Auckland?

• Point Chevalier works in all westerly directions. The water is flat to choppy and waist deep at mid tide, and Kite Jungle rates it for all levels. Go from mid to high tide: at low tide the water drains off sand and mud with sharp shellfish, and the current is strong. Windsurfers use the area behind Meola Reef for chop hopping and speed runs.
• Takapuna Beach, on the North Shore, is cross-shore in a northerly and onshore in anything from the east. Swell builds over the reef and gives small waves for jumping.
• Orewa Beach, on the Hibiscus Coast, is a 2 km east-facing sandy beach that works in north-easterly and easterly wind. The local windsurf guide puts the summer sea breeze there at 12 to 15 knots and rates it for beginners.

Windfinder’s Point Chevalier station averaged about 10 knots from the west-south-west in December and January and 8.5 knots in February, measured over the whole day. That station no longer reports, so treat its figures as a rough guide. The Auckland Airport station, on the west side of the city, averages 11.2 knots in December, 11.0 in January and 9.7 in February.

Which surfski downwind runs are there?

The surfski wiki lists these Auckland runs:

Start	Finish	Distance
Waikowhai	Cornwallis Wharf, Manukau Harbour (in an east-north-easterly)	14 km
Whangaparaoa Peninsula	Takapuna Boating Club	23 km
Rangitoto Beacon	Okahu Bay	about 8 km
Waiheke	Auckland Harbour	35 to 50 km

What should you watch out for?

• Ship traffic in the harbours. The surfski wiki tells paddlers to check local rules, reefs and tides, and whales die each year in collisions with ships and sport boats in the Gulf.
• At Takapuna, swimmers and boats at weekends, rips in rough weather and a rocky reef with sharp oysters at mid to low tide.
• At Orewa, swimmers during the holiday season and a beach break.
• The west coast is exposed to Tasman Sea swell.

Much of the beach detail above comes from an undated windsurf guide, so check conditions locally. For more summer water north of the city, see the Bay of Islands; for waves and a west-coast sea breeze, see Raglan.

How do you get there?

Fly into Auckland Airport (AKL). Windfinder puts it about 16 km from Point Chevalier, 23 km from Takapuna and 46 km from Orewa.

How windy is Auckland from December to February?

Share of days with at least three consecutive daylight hours at 11 knots (4 Beaufort) or more, over the last 10 southern summers (2015/16 to 2024/25).

	December	January	February	Mean daylight wind	Most common direction
Point Chevalier, Auckland	62%	59%	48%	11.4 kn	SW
Takapuna Beach, Auckland	62%	59%	48%	11.4 kn	SW
Orewa Beach	62%	59%	54%	11.8 kn	SW
Waitematā Harbour, Auckland	62%	59%	48%	11.4 kn	SW

Our calculation from NASA POWER hourly wind at 10 m (MERRA-2 model), 09:00 to 18:00 local solar time. The model grid is about 50 km wide, so it smooths out local sea breezes and gusts: use these figures to compare spots and months, and check a local forecast before you go.

Where do people ride at Auckland right now?

Explore+ in the Waterspeed web app shows recent sessions on a map, with sport and top speed, so you can see which spots are working before you go. Open Explore+. To record your own sessions, Waterspeed runs on iPhone, Android, Apple Watch and Wear OS, and syncs Garmin, COROS and Suunto.

FAQ

When is the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta?

On Auckland Anniversary Day, a Monday at the end of January or start of February. The 2027 edition is expected on 1 February 2027; check the notice of race once it is published.

Where can beginners kitesurf or windsurf in Auckland?

Point Chevalier is rated for all levels and is best from mid to high tide. Orewa Beach is listed as a beginner windsurf beach.

Which way does the summer wind blow in Auckland?

South-west is the most common direction all year, but in summer more wind comes from the north-east, and sea breezes blow from November to March.

Sources

• NIWA: The climate and weather of Auckland
• Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta: notice of race
• Auckland Unlimited: Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta 2025
• Office Holidays: Auckland Anniversary Day
• Wikipedia: Hauraki Gulf
• Surfski wiki: New Zealand
• Kite Jungle: Point Chevalier
• Kite Jungle: Takapuna Beach
• Kite Jungle: Orewa Beach
• winzurf: Windsurfing Guide to New Zealand, Auckland city
• winzurf: Windsurfing Guide to New Zealand, Hibiscus Coast
• Windfinder statistics: Point Chevalier
• Windfinder statistics: Auckland Airport