Hey lgringo,

There is really only one place to ride in Cairns itself, and that is Yorkeys Knob. There is no budget accomodation in Yorkeys so you will need to stay at a backpackers in Cairns city itself where there is plenty of budget accomodation. Problem is you then need wheels to get you to Yorkeys which is a 15 minute drive from town.

Your alternative is to go to Port Douglas where if you are lucky you may get a bed at the only real backpackers in PD (Dougies?) It is a 5 minute car drive to 4 mile beach from there.

Sorry dude, but you're in Australia now, you need wheels my friend. Everywhere is long distance in Australia and without wheels of some kind, you are basically screwed especially if you are carrying a couple of kites a board or two and your wet gear.

Townsville is another option, you can stay in the Rose Bay caravan Park and rig across the road if the tide is right, and kite down to the local spot.

Hope you have fun, good winds!

Hey lgringo,

Western Australia has only storm winds in August which are very squally, cold, strong, cold and gusty (Oh and did I mention cold).

We do however have awesome swell (for paddling). I wouldn't come all the way to Perth for kiting until November when our seabreezes start up again. You might be able to try up north WA like Broome, but I'm unsure of their winds up there at the moment.

As for accom and wind reports for Cairns, give Chris from Kiterite a call on 0409 283 322, he's a good guy. He has a kiteshop pretty much near the beach at Yorkeys Knob (the only real kiting destination in Cairns itself). I was speaking with him this morning and he says they are having 30 knots with gusts and a bit of rain, but at least they have wind eh!

There are lots of good spots for surfing and kiting in Newcastle in Winter like Squids Ink, Birubi Point in westerlies and too many beaches to mention in SW and NE. There is a good local crew in Newcastle too so you wont be alone.

Later,

quote:

---

I was speaking with him this morning and he says they are having 30 knots with gusts and a bit of rain, but at least they have wind eh!

---

There is no wind on the beaches I can tell you!!

Sure we have a 30 knot forecast but really only got one day of wind on the first day of the trade and even then it wasn't all that great. It has rained hard for the past two days and does not look like clearing according to the met.

We are getting alot of rain with the trades this year and often they are slightly offshore and gusty. I have had two half decent sessions in the past two months and with my job I get to the beach at least 4 to 5 days a week. Extremely frustrating to say the least.

Hey Kitehard,
The Spanish dude wants to kite NOW, can't you feel the urgency in his posts.
He's freaking out man, he says he's addicted.

So what if WA is cold in winter, climb into a wetsuit and have a ration of rum.
From now on, it's a cold front every week. Heaps of wind. Life is good.

Hey Igringo, jump into your campervan and point it west.

Hey 'Slave,

Don't know if a front a week is going to be enough for this junkies addiction.

Too many days like today < 5 knots, but beautiful for surfing!

The far norths in their windy time, even if it isn't windy now, could be like WA last summer, just a late start.

Good winds wherever you find em lgringo