Victoria never gets too cold. Get a good wetsuit.

Cheap and warm in winter.
North of Brisbane.
Sunshine Coast to Cooktown
Your choice

Did a real quick and nasty comparison for you based on a 7 day kite trip, leaving Melb 10 July 2013, having single accommodation and airfares and in order they are:

1. Australian Kite Sarfari $2226
2. Loard Howe $2229
3. Fiji $2480
4. Cook Islands $2848
5. PNG $3330
6. Cocos Islands $3450

I know there are a lot more costs to consider and if you hunt around you can do it cheaper. Also need to consider wether you are after a overseas holidays that has all the different experiences that come with holidays or just heading to say Cook Town and living in a tent, like how long is a piece of string.....

Beersy said...

SaltySinus said...
Is 5mm enough?

Plenty

Roger. Thanks Beersy.

I guess I'll need a 7m kite as well (I'm 82kg ish) for those gusty stormy days?

nothing better than zipping round on the 7m kite though........

SaltySinus said...
Is 5mm enough?

A 3/2mm sealed seam suit with a rashie underneath is adequate for Melbourne winter kiting.

A 4/3 suit is better and toastie warm.

It can be difficult to dry a super warm, fleece lined suit in winter. The Rip Curl Flash Bomb wetsuits will touch dry in 20 minutes. The water wicks away from the surface so the suit is still wet underneath but the bit touching your skin is dry. I used to take two wetties away for weekend trips but now I just take one Flash Bomb have multiple sessions in a day.

The other trick is to take a bottle of hot water with you. Fill a 2-4-5 litre plastic container with hot water and wrap it with your towel. The water will stay warm for 12 hours and be tepid after 24 hours. When you finish your session you wash yourself down with hot water then dry yourself with a warm towel.

You also go to a good kiting location like Port Douglas and stay in the town or better still close to the 4 Mile Beach kiting spot. Airfares $600 return, accommodation for around $100 per night or cheaper. There would be other QLD spots just as good but I haven't kited at them, yet.

Cooktown is more remote and you need a 4WD.

Some more info: www.peterskiteboarding.com/p/far-north-qld-kitesurfing.html

Peterc150 said...
You also go to a good kiting location like Port Douglas and stay in the town or better still close to the 4 Mile Beach kiting spot. Airfares $600 return, accommodation for around $100 per night or cheaper. There would be other QLD spots just as good but I haven't kited at them, yet.

Cooktown is more remote and you need a 4WD.

Some more info: www.peterskiteboarding.com/p/far-north-qld-kitesurfing.html

Thanks for the tip, Peter. Had a quick squiz, and looks good to me! :

Port Douglas offers an ideal tropical climate (mid 20s during the day) in the Australian winter when the south easterly trade winds are at their best during May and October. Port Douglas is also the gateway to some of the best diving, snorkeling and fishing locations in Australia, so if the wind drops there's still plenty to keep your adrenalin levels pumped and your BBQ well supplied.

Port is very reliable during winter. Spent a winter there a few years ago. Kited most days. Even better if you meet up with a local with a boat and kite some of the sand atolls offshore

SaltySinus said...

Howdy guys, any recommended cheap/easy places to go in winter to keep one's hand in.

I've seen various Fiji holidays advertised which look great, but I guess I'm looking for something a little cheaper. Any tips on good, cheap and wind-reliable destinations?

I guess Sydney is only up the road....

Cheers

Hey Salty check the link out below.
http://peninsulakiteboarding.com.au/tours/kiteboarding-safaris-2013/
Fiji 7 Days, all meals, wifi, kite instructor & guide, waterfall tours, town & market, village tours with primary school assembly & donations, group vehicle, boat support, kayaks, snorkeling pearl farm tours, cultural nights...action packed! Park the car on the beach & pump up to kite over a huge shallow water lagoon with waves on the outer reef. Have lunch in the restaurant & look over the kite lagoon. Check out Taveuni Island, Fiji. It's been rated one of the most beautiful islands in the world with Fijis only world heritage national park, over 600 waterfalls & dive sites rated top 10 in the world. Look up the "Great White Wall"
June 10-17
7 days $1000