I am new in Sydney and would appreciate some additional info about kiting possibilities around the Northern Beaches.

If there is a kind spirit that can show me how to self launch (I've seen the video but prefer someone hanging on to my harness giving instructions), it would be much appreciated.

Also are there any Slingshot TD experts around?

Only kited at Narrabeen twice. Can be a bit nasty if you don't -like me, have all the skills yet. This is where everyone told me to go - also tried LongReef - this was even nastier and by the time I had the kite in the air the gusts were much more than 25kts, which I have checked 20 mins earlier (made a late wise decision to leave the kite down after it twirled out of the sky twice by the time I reached the water)

.....but I see dudes kiting at Manly during the week whenever the wind is NE. I even watched someone trying to relaunch while difting through the flags. Fortunately there were only 1 or 2 swimmers. What is the official situation?

My level I would say is probably still beginner - I only just started to do small headhigh jumps - but not in the waves. I had mainly kited in flatwater before (around Asia and Mauritius). Does that mean the Northern Beaches is not really the best place for me (at least until I am comfortable to self launch)?

yes, sorry to say that was indeed me with the brown and orange TD. Lets just say I learned from the experience. Normally in lighter wind I use a red 16m SB 1

Manly is certainly a NO GO area on weekends but it is virtually empty on weekday late afternoons when the wind is above 15kts?..and I have seen as many as 5 kites out at the same time...are they all tourists?

Longreef is fine for having help launching as everyone is at the same spot. Since my last experience I have decided to give it a miss for the time being though.

At Narrabeen people seem to be more scattered and on weekdays you need to pick your spot carefully when you are pumping, otherwise you may end up sitting on the beach if you can not self launch.