Hi guys,

I was hoping to get some tips on some safe, shallow / waist depth spots that are accessible within a few hours drive from Sydney?

Normally I kite on B-Bay, some friends of mine have just done their IKO course and need a shallow / learner friendly spot that is good to get some practice in the summer months (NE onshore)?

NSWKBA map has Fingal Bay and Huskinsson tagged as learner friendly spots that are onshore in a NE, are either of these shallow / waist depth?

I checked Culburra last summer and there is no water in the lake, so that is out for now.


cheers

Crimpster

The Entrance on the estuary. Opposite wind direction to a NE though needed

crimpster said..
Cool - thanks for the replies. I will check out old bar it sounds like its not to be missed.

Sitting at my desk nursing a severe bout of wonderlust, I see that there are a handful of river inlets on the south coast - Sussex Inlet, Lake Conjola, Durras, Lake Tabourie, Dolphin Point.... are any of these kiteable for learners?

Old Bar.. make sure its high tide as at low tie its basically a mud pit with a bit of water 100m wide.. At high tide its awesome fun and u can go all the way up to the river mouth... Also the launching/landing area is surrounded by trees and last time I was there covered in sticks.. Make sure someone is able to launch/land you . as you cant really self launch

Huskisson - I've kited in the lagoon near the camp ground before and its not great as its too small and gets crowded with swimmers etc.. but it would work for some practice body dragging.

Durras - doing a camp trip there in a few weeks so will try it out..

Blacksmiths - if your only body dragging/learnign etc and not on a board the back side of Blacksmiths can be good and its shallow..

Jimmys Beach - Ditto to Backsmiths.. Can work in a NE on the backside.

Why don't they go to Kurnell.. its one of the best spots around for beginners right though to Pro's

Culburra Lake definitely is the place for learners when there is enough water in there , waist deep around nearly the whole lake. It would have been awesome this summer if some smuks didn't forcefully open it on the last heavy rains. Huskisson ,on the beach in front of Moona Moona creek would be a good option as the NE is cross on and the beach runs for 2km's so it is quite safe.

crimpster said..
Cool - thanks for the replies. I will check out old bar it sounds like its not to be missed.

Sitting at my desk nursing a severe bout of wonderlust, I see that there are a handful of river inlets on the south coast - Sussex Inlet, Lake Conjola, Durras, Lake Tabourie, Dolphin Point.... are any of these kiteable for learners?

Lake Conjola - not for learners. Difficult to kite the lake except on rare occasions.
Lake Tabourie - no, ocean only
Dolphin Point - no good

KIT33R said..

crimpster said..
Cool - thanks for the replies. I will check out old bar it sounds like its not to be missed.

Sitting at my desk nursing a severe bout of wonderlust, I see that there are a handful of river inlets on the south coast - Sussex Inlet, Lake Conjola, Durras, Lake Tabourie, Dolphin Point.... are any of these kiteable for learners?

Lake Conjola - not for learners. Difficult to kite the lake except on rare occasions.
Lake Tabourie - no, ocean only
Dolphin Point - no good

We just got back from a recon of these places

Lake Conjola - not for learners. Difficult to kite the lake except on rare occasions. --> and not enough water and lots of crowds
Lake Tabourie - no, ocean only --> and not enough water
Dolphin Point - no good --> and not enough water, looks awesome from the road though.

Then we kited these places, and feedback from a novice perspective:

Batemans Bay (SE) : Good on a low / outgoing tide, 50 - 100m of waist deep water with the wind slight side shore
Tomakin (SE) : Good but for kiting but not for beginner, lots of waves and the sand bar at the southern end is not sheltered from the swell.
North Durras (NE) : Good with a decent NE wind, there can be alot of people around. Otherwise chest deep water at mid - low tide.
Broulee (NE) : Good wave spot, the shallow part at low tide is shadowed from the wind by a headland.

We checked Moruya Heads which is more of a wave spot, and Tuross Heads looks amazing but has a headland that appears to shadow the NE wind a bit.

There wasn't enough time to check Huskisson and Culburra, next time maybe.

Hoping to get down to Bermagui to add some more spots to the list.

Next up we will head north @bigtone667 Canton Beach (SE) and Swansea (NE) look like good spots.