G'Day SP1,

The best thing you can do is get some lessons from a reputable school and form a relationship with your instructor. He, or she, will no doubt give you advice on what is best to use for your weight, riding location, wind strength and ability. They will possibly also have some sort of relationship with the local retailer and often will also have the skinny on good second hand gear floating about at the local spot.

There are a couple of schools in Brisbane, a few in the Gold Coast, a school in Caloundra and also Noosa. There is also a school in Port Macquarie, Forster/Tuncurry and Byron Bay.

Good job getting advice already, there are still a few lamo individuals that jeopardize beach access by trying to self teach on crowded beaches with the wrong or badly tuned gear

Onya and good winds, welcome to the sport!

Definatley find an instructor dude! They will guide you through the kites with reasonably unbiased opinions based on your desired riding style. They are also a library of info on local spots ect... and will help in saving your life and other peoples! I tried 6 years ago without an instructor and got lofted on the beach breaking my heal bone, and several toes on the other foot. Often you see people who havent figured the kite out properly and dont have that extra hand holding them firmly on the ground getting dragged along the beach or seeing there riderless kite blowing through crowds of beachgoers (resulting in the bans you are seeing today) I know Bigwavedave instructs in Sunny Coast.

Where are you located Sunny, Goldy or Brisvegas?
I hear brighton is a good spot for beginners.

Good luck!