Tilby Drive, Tauranga

Best Tide: 2hrs either side of high tide but not great on an out-going due to a strong current through the channel

Best Wind: SW – W – NW

Conditions: Good bump and jump sailing on high wind days or speed sailing across to Matakana Island

Parking: Windsurfers all park at far end by the toilets

Rigging: Plenty of grass area on the edge of the fields or along the waterfront

Launching: From the beach next to the boat ramp

Skill Level: Fine for learners through to advanced

Risks: Sand bars as tide goes out (another reason why sailing on the incoming tide is best), kitesurfers (this is their main sailing spot), occasional boaties

Entrance is carpark on right just before park entrance, Kulim Ave, Tauranga. Club Members are given access to club for use of hose plus parking on grass when any committee members are present.

Best Tide: Anything 2 hours either side of low.

Best Wind: Good from West through to SE. More gusty in E and SE. Best direction is NW, N and NE.

Conditions: Bump and Jump. Nice place to foil 2 hours either side of high tide

Parking: Small car park on headland, more parking in the main park

Rigging: Large grassy area on the headland

Launching: Direct from the beaches or down the ramp on the headland

Skill Level: Beginners and everyone up.

Risks: None

Grass area on right side of Trinity Wharf Hotel, Dive Cres, Tauranga

Best Tide: Any

Best Wind: East

Conditions: Flat water

Parking: On the roadside

Rigging: On grass next to footpath

Launching: Very small ramp near Sebel Hotel (Trinity Wharf)

Skill Level: Intermediate foiling

Risks: Outgoing tide could drag you under the bridge. Safe on the incoming tide.

Unnamed access ramp after Sulphur Point Boat Ramp and Tauranga Fish & Dive Club, Keith Allen Drive, Tauranga

Best Tide: One hour either side of low (you want as much of the sand bar exposed as possible) it works for longer but the water gets less flat as the tide comes in.

Best Wind: WSW

Conditions: Flat water

Parking: Alongside first boat storage area at Sulphur point. Turn left off Keith Allen Drive about 500m past the boat ramps.

Rigging: On grass area next to car parks

Launching: Small access ramp to sand

Skill Level: Beginners to advanced. People learn to wing foil here.

Risks: Gets very shallow in places so do slow test runs first. Give way to boats going 5knts and try to stick to sides of channel. We should not really be going more than 5knts in the whole creek but if you stay well away from other boats then mostly left alone.

Keith Allen Drive, Tauranga

Best Tide: Any

Best Wind: SW through to SE. Best in a Northly type direction.

Conditions: Bump and Jump, but really only worth going there for foiling. The tide is so strong that on a normal fin it’s hard to beat the tide.

Parking: In car park, ample parking all the time.

Rigging: On grass area by Yacht Club

Launching: Two small beaches into the main channel

Skill Level: Foiling (Intermediate to Advanced due to tidal flow and risks)

Risks: Getting swept down tide. Can be busy with Dinghies and yachts especially when they are racing.

The Mall, Mount Maunganui

Best Tide: 3 hours either side of High but can sail here on any tide.

Best Wind: SW to NW

Conditions: Bump and Jump – Can be pretty tidal and lots of weird currents. Gets steep chop in some areas.

Parking: Along Pilot Bay road, normally nearer to the south end of the beach because its deeper at this end.

Rigging: On grass at side of road

Launching: Anywhere but typically park and rig mid-way at toilets.

Skill Level: Beginner and up

Risks: Moored boats, other people on the water (swimmers, kayaks, SUPs), tidal currents. Sailing in the main shipping channel is always dangerous and you need to keep an eye out for ships and other large boats.

Best Tide: Anything but high tide

Best Wind: NW or SE

Conditions: Waves

Parking: On road side

Rigging: On grass next to parking

Launching: Anywhere. There’s a deep channel of the beach and then a bar about 50-100m off the beach. Big rips going with the wind in the channel so you are often underpowered in this channel.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced (Depending in swell size)

Risks: Getting pounded by the surf

Best Tide: Anything except high tide

Best Wind: NW or SE

Conditions: Waves, generally smaller than at Tay St

Parking: Either Harrisons Cut boat ramp or at Papamoa Surf Club car park

Rigging: Not a lot of space at the boat ramp. You generally rig on the car park. Lots of grass area by the surf club

Launching: Anywhere off the beach

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced (Depending in swell size)

Risks: Getting pounded by the surf. Stay away from the swimming flag area in summer.

Best Tide: Mid tide on an incoming tide, but you can sail here on any tide

Best Wind: SW

Conditions: Waves

Parking: By Café or next to surf club building

Rigging: On grass area next to car parks

Launching: You are launching out of the estuary entrance. The sand bars constantly move around so it changes all the time. To the west of the entrance its nice and sandy, to the East of the entrance its sandy but littered with large rocks.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced (Depending in swell size)

Risks: Getting pounded by the surf. Watch out on an outgoing tide that you have plenty of power to beat the outgoing current.