I havn't kited in Cairns before, but from what I've heard you can't go wrong. I'm heading up there for a few days and I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on the best locations and wind conditions.

Mate, Have a chat to a few of the locals and I'm sure they will look after you, Just don't downwind of the rigging area to land, the Knob causes the wind to be abit dicey. Just tap your head, one of the boys will look after you, and a "thanks" goes a long way.

You can try talking to the locals but get the right one cause i didnt and found that they were the most arrogant kiters i have met and i have spent a fair amount of time kiting st kilda.

Honestly, I've got to tell you that Cairns is seriously over rated.
You sail on CHOP ...... neither the thrill of sailing real SWELL, nor the elegance of the FLAT.
The water is grey brown with sediment.
It's GUSTY.

But then again, better than everyone sailing in PERFECT conditions where I do

oh and as far as the creek is concerned ......there were 2 crocs (1.5 meters)sighted out in the river mouth last week .......hope that doesn't put people off coming here to kite....

Gasman, it's not WA, but there's a lot to be said about being able to kite still in boardies in the middle of winter even though it's over chop and sediment.
Yorkeys is only one of the beaches in the Cairns area, and there are plenty of others that give you a totally different experience. Get out the back at Wonga beach and you'll have the decent swells, get Machans beach on the right day for acres of flat water, and of course Port Douglas offers variable conditions that sometimes pump when Yorkeys doesn't. The more southerly the wind, the better Port gets over Yorkeys.
As for the locals - you can question their sexuality, but not their friendliness. They are constantly dealing with tourists and learners, and the only major incident I saw was when a particularly arrogant adult learner who should have known better was hot launching in front of kids and it ended up in a dust up, cause he wouldn't take the advice of a concerned local.
That caring and sharing of fist to head aside, there's been countless times when visitors have been helped out with launching, landing and advice on conditions. I reckon there's a regular crew of about 30, and although not in any way pretty, they are friendly. On any day when there are up to 50 kites up, I can't vouch for the others.

4 mile beach is at port douglas ......don't worry about crocs there but.....i did see a 2.5 m shark in knee deep water 10 meters from the beach.

the river mouth is at yorkys

a 12 will be fine - bring a 15 if you have one

quote:

---

Originally posted by brucex

I really do have to question the comments on this thread about the locals being not friendly.....
We do have a lot of travelling kiters here from europe so maybe you are confused with those guys.

---

racism on this forum about foreign kiters ????????????????????
well, i guess, it is always easy to blame people who cannot defend themselves on this forum.
what about aussies beeing too territorial ????

marc-a.

In cairns sooon.....cant wait....hope there is wind and crocs...never kited with a croc before.

the shark was in pt douglas - the water was dirty but it was in knee deep water 10 m from the beach and i saw his fin tail sticking well out of the water

think he came in to perve at the hot chicks at the waters edge taking pics of us kiting

If i look at the graphs, Cairns seems to be the best spot at the eastcoast right now. I reckon i go up there in 2 weeks i hope wind is still there ...

There are loads of cheap car rentals - try older cart and ute hire....or just steal one from the airport carpark

I'm a Yorkey's Pole Driver, and was just having a look here on the dark side.

Now I don't want to promote the place, cos it's hard enough now to get a park spot. But I gota say most locals are friendly, f--k even I catch & launch kites. Just ask a local what's the go, and you'll be right, act a d-head, and that's how you'll be treated.

Don't worry about the Croc's, it's the sea snakes that you'll run into !

Anyone know of cheap hotels close to the kiting beaches? I am up middle of september for the weekend so it would be nice to find something close to the kiting areas.