I hear the best spot is at Breakas beach resort - Can anyone shed any light on where is the best or the conditions required etc - Going around mid Feb....
thanks

yeh we went there on a kiting trip and got absolutely nothing over about a 10 day period....we went during the trade wind season but still lucked out (got one half day of 12knots, enough to get going...just).

We stayed just down the road from Breakers and the lagoon out front had sooo much potential (even on a lowish tide - had a nice deep channel) but unfortunatley the wind never came up (shoulda been there the week before....aparently)

We went up and had a look at Breakers (very schmick place and $$$), aparently the owner's son kite's and would probably be more than happy to have new people to kite with. Kiteing out front looked possible but dont drop your kite and get washed in....say goodbye to your kite if u do. (and pretty much high tide kiting only unless u get out past the reef) There's also a semidecent looking Left hander there as well.

Way on the other side of the island there's a place called Beachcomber and again has potentially good kiting out front....again high tide only unless u want to brave the open channel out the back (dont expect any boat support)
The website makes this place look more than it really is - but it is tranquil and pleasent enough but is in the middle of nowhere. Take your snorkelling gear and kiting booties and a friendly smile/small gifts for the locals in the small village just next door.
www.beachcomberlodge.com/

Some good kiting and a sandy beach can be found aparently in between the main island and the Hideaway island resort. Didnt make it there but was told it can be a great spot in the right winds.

I suggest u find out what winds u can expect during the time of year you are going and get onto GoogleEarth (or an Atlas) and suss out the island and see what potential bays/beaches u can find.

good luck and always be friendly to the locals - they are really quite receptive of tourists and the kids will love your kites and watch you all day if your out in the water.

Done quite a bit of research lately for our winter holiday and have come to the conclusion the Raratonga would be the best bet for a holiday around July, but have never been so here is what I have found out

Vanuatu, approx airfare $570
Light trade winds do get as high as the islads further to the east
Only place I found to kitesurf said experienced only lots of coral and surf break

Noumea (New Caledonia), approx airfare $530
Trade winds dont come until Dec in July winds will only be 10-15 knots so it is more of a summer holiday as it is further south

Rarotonga (Cook Islands), approx airfare $778
Should have SE trade winds of 15-25 knots
Nice location, kitesurfing location at muri lagoon, Sand bottom lagoon
On Metropolis DVD
for info and accom
http://www.pacific-travel-guides.com/cook-islands/
www.shekinahhomes.com/map.htm

I also looked at Tonga and Tahiti, Ruled out Fiji as I went there last year.

For info on historic wind data try this site, you can put in the location and a 2 week date range and it will give you data on the last few years during that time

www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp

If you are looking for Kitesurfing in Nov I would say New Caledonia for what I have read and been told they have very good consistant winds at that time of year and the trade winds will almost be gone from the pacific. But I think that the Cook Islands would be fantastic to visit even without the kitesurfing

Kiting in New Caledonia Rocks

The kiting does really get like this if you're able to get about by boat.

Why go?
it's got 200 - 250 ridable days a year that just roars when the time is right, it's gallic so the food's pretty good, the second longest barrier reef with world class diving and it's got these amazing paradise islands for chilling out when your arms are too tired from the pull.

When to go
November to March is the Typhoon season (although there might not actuallly be one and the weather seems amazing and sunny) and the wind just howls every day.

Where to Kite
The capital Noumea has two spots to ride, of any quality, but two of them can be expensive to get to.
Meridien, Anse Vata beach

This is a less 'pretty' spit where the wind blows 'off' shore but there is a bay parallel if all goes wrong. There is a big coral chunk downwind which no-one seems to worry about. but the water is reflection flat even when it's blowing 30 knots, which it does. The wind is really constant so bring your 8m to 13m for town. The deal is that it's pretty packed on weekends with some really crazy kiters showing off, so if you're a beginner this is not the spot. You can go upwind and there is a secluded area that will mash your board at low tide. The crowds really come round comp. time and you see stuff that you will only see at cabarete.

Isle Maitre
A water taxi away. It is a luxury resort with those over water bungalows,
that's not a problem for you kiting there. It's got a 500 mtr. upwind flat water shelf that just rocks and there's always someone out. on a normal Easterly, South Easterly Wind in the windy season you'll find that you can kite there from anse vata (aiming for the lighthouse) and you've got a playground. You could even arrange for a water taxi to pick you up so that you've not gotta come back. This is the spot for beginners

Loyalte islands
Lifou
Bring a 17m for paradise riding in this amazing island with cristal water and white sand. It blows but if it's F5-6 in Noumea it'll be F3-4 in Lifou Wonderful spot to ride just be prepared. MV havana goes there as well as a catamaran twice a week. This is such a cool place with such a chilled out vibe, local cricket with women screaming blue murder is just something not to miss.

Ouvea
Difficult to get to and away from but this is paradise. 25 km sands unlike many places in the world... bring your bigger kites though

Off a Yacht
This can be done by chance meeting people in the harbour or by engaging www.kitecruises.com Met the fella who organises this and he seems pretty cool. No idea of the cost though.

How to get there
You may be visiting Oz and be thinking jeez I wanna see some Pacific Islands too well this is definitely one if you can afford it, Cos it aint cheap.
You're looking at spending $150 per day per person and that will get you a 4star hotel (on locally reduced rates), One fancy meal, and sandwiches from the supermarket a few beers, sandwich breakfast and the odd ferry ride. It hurts though sometimes to pay $40 for two 15 min ferry rides to get out and back from Iles Maitre. But it does seem worth it when you're there.

Where to stay
Staying in town and renting a car is a possible because you then can go up the coast a little to other spots like the beach near Bourail (which are good if it's honking in Anse Vata)
Local shops, nightlife, restaurants are all round anse vata so it's a good place to stay. Le Lagon suits are 50 euros a night and local discounts apply if you rock up wanting a room you can get 40% off marked room rates. so 60 euros for a fancy hotel over the bay.

Alternatively it's $20 to stay in the youth hostel at the top of the hill and then 6 dollars for the bus to ansavata (one every 20 mins)

Other stuff
A basic grounding in french can make it easier as everyone speaks it and notalotta english. If you want to get there cheaper you can get a flight to vanuatu for $99 plus taxes on Virgin Pacific and then hitch a ride on a yacht to New Caledonia as everyone is fleeing the unsheltered water of Port Vila in Vanuatu and coming through from fiji. Hitching a lift if you can sail a little is a doddle and then you can even sail to Australia for just the cost of food. If you've got the luck you may even be able to stop on route.

Here or Vanuatu. Vanuatu aint great wind, it's great culture, amazing sites, volcanos, epic diving but given the choice for a kiting holiday go NC everytime