Melbourne in summer: kitesurfing, sailing and surfski on Port Phillip
Port Phillip gets a southerly sea breeze on most summer afternoons. It powers kitesurfing at St Kilda and Altona, racing at 36 yacht clubs and surfski downwind runs along the bay's beaches.
Melbourne is a good place for kitesurfing, sailing and surfski from December to February. On summer afternoons a sea breeze from the south or south-west blows over Port Phillip, and Kiteforum says St Kilda gets it about 5 or 6 days a week at up to 20 knots. December and January are the best months for kitesurfing at St Kilda, and Port Phillip has 36 yacht clubs.
Facts as of November 2026, from the sources listed at the end of this page.
Where can you kitesurf in Melbourne?
- St Kilda, about 10 minutes from the city centre: shallow, flat water with some chop. Kiteforum rates it from beginner to expert, and Kite Republic runs beginner lessons here.
- Altona is the other option. Parks Victoria says the western side of the pier is a great place for kitesurfing. The water is fairly calm, with small waves only when a strong southerly blows. Boating zones apply.
Windfinder’s St Kilda Harbour RMYS station averages about 13 knots from the south-south-west in December and January and about 12 knots in February, measured over the whole day. Kiteforum puts onshore at about south-south-west, so the summer breeze is often onshore at St Kilda.
Is Melbourne good for sailing in summer?
Yes. Port Phillip has 36 yacht clubs, and strong southerly afternoon winds are common in summer because of the sea breeze. Simon Mustoe notes that the bay gets choppy where an onshore wind of more than about 10 knots hits the beach.
The big summer regatta is the Festival of Sails at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, on Corio Bay. It opens with the Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race, in its 184th year, and runs on the Australia Day long weekend: 23 to 26 January 2027, according to the organiser. Some other listings give 22 to 26 January.
Which surfski runs does Port Phillip give?
The surfski wiki lists these runs along the bay’s beaches:
| Start | Finish | Distance | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandridge Beach | Black Rock Beach | about 18 km | in a north-north-westerly |
| Mentone | Frankston | 18 km | |
| Mornington | Patterson Lakes | 19 km | the Notto Run |
| Blairgowrie Beach | Safety Beach | 18.5 km | |
| Williamstown | St Kilda Beach | 7 to 8 km |
Only the Sandridge Beach run comes with a wind direction in the wiki. For the others, check with a local club which wind works before you set up a shuttle.
What about SUP, wing foil and windsurfing in Melbourne?
The sources for this page do not cover SUP, wing foiling or windsurfing spots in Melbourne. The calm water at Altona and the flat water at St Kilda are described above. Wind sport zone rules along the Port Phillip beaches could not be verified, so check the local council’s zones before you launch any board.
What should you watch out for?
- St Kilda has buoys, the mole and rocks in the water, and shells on the beach (Kiteforum).
- The Rip, at Port Phillip Heads: tidal flow up to 8 knots, made turbulent by the uneven seabed. Small craft should cross at slack water.
- The South Channel is the main shipping channel, and dredged channels lead to the port. Sandbanks and shoals lie in the south of the bay.
How do you get there?
Melbourne Airport (MEL) serves the city. For Geelong and the Festival of Sails, Avalon Airport (AVV) is closer. Adelaide and Hobart are the other southern cities with a summer page. More on the sports: kitesurf, sailing and surfski.
How windy is Melbourne 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Kilda, Melbourne | 55% | 53% | 53% | 9.9 kn | S |
| Port Phillip Bay | 55% | 53% | 53% | 9.9 kn | S |
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 Melbourne 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
Where can you kitesurf in Melbourne?
At St Kilda, where Kite Republic teaches beginners, and on the western side of Altona Pier.
How often is there wind in Melbourne in summer?
Kiteforum says St Kilda gets sea breezes about 5 or 6 days a week in summer, from the south or south-west at up to 20 knots.
When is the Festival of Sails in 2027?
23 to 26 January 2027 at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, according to the organiser.
Which airport is closest to Port Phillip?
Melbourne Airport (MEL). Avalon Airport (AVV) is closer to Geelong.
