VIC
21 posts
Hi,
Moving to Melbourne in 3 weeks, from Europe. Reading the threads, looks like I can pretty much forget about kiting during the winter time there :(
So, where can you go for a winter weekend kite trip from Melbourne? Fiji? Townsville? How about Geelong area? Any other ideas that are not too far in distance (flying or driving)?
Sucks I have to move right at the start of the dead season. And I know that after a few weeks of non-kiting, I'm gonna want to get out on the water, somehow.
Thanks for the tips!
Steve
455 posts
last year i went to rosebud alot when winter started (south east).
the wind was fairly good, and i had almost the whole place to myself which was nice. i think if you check for wind warnings and dont mind a bit of driving you can still get out alot during winter.
VIC
428 posts
Winter kiting in Melb is very do-able..just be aware that the water temp drops all the way down to about 8 degrees at its lowest - so a thick steamer is a must & probably booties if you want to last more than an hour a session.
Winter wind systems have a westerly flavour & cycle from north west to south west. South west brings rain and is very cold - north west you can have some sunny days.
Close to Melb, Brighton, St Kilda and all the way down the bay from Brighton to Rye work in a westerly. Pt Henry at Geelong also works in west as do the beaches on the surf coast e.g. 13th beach at Barwon.
Westerly systems can be very gusty which equals danger. Dont kite on your own and dont kite when fronts are approaching. If the bureau predict sqaulls I would not go out. However - the bureau have trouble predicting anything accurately regards wind, so I would look at the conditions locally, know how your quick release works & practice...a helmet may also be a good idea.
VIC
21 posts
Thanks for that guys - seems a bit more bearable. Mind you, I've been living in a place where kiting is a no-no for me in the winter time: The Netherlands. Winter water temp drops to 6, and the air is even colder...and that's 6 months of misery.
I guess we're talking about 3 months of misery in Melbourne, when it is really too cold (air or water under 10 degrees)?
Steve
VIC
375 posts
if water temperature doesnt bother you, then when the northerlies come through, you will have some really good sessions at rye to rosebud on flat/ waist depth water. it is the best place to kite in melbourne IMO
455 posts
flemboyant is right but whenever i go there (rye/rosebud) i wear booties because there seems to be something in the water that stings my feet, not sure what it is and its not thatbad but it can get really annoying.
maybe il see you there.
greg
QLD
699 posts
well I got here in August and first thing I did was have a sesh at brighton. I dont think it ever gets too cold if you have a good wetsuit and an extra layer of kentucky fried insulation. its more that the days are short so no after work kiting in winter and you're relying on the wind being there on the weekend. Im planning on doing some snowboarding on windless winter weekends as theres snow a couple of hours drive out of melbourne and the season opens in June.
VIC
21 posts
Thanks again - which leads me to another question...which winter kiting is better, Melbourne or Perth?
Because if it's Perth, then I'll bust ass to make sure I relocate there next (possibly November), from Melbourne. I take it that Melb is pretty ok in the season -summer-, like 5 kiteable days/week?
Steve
