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Atawhai Estuary kitesurf and wingfoil spot

New Zealand · Nelson

Spot currently openBeginner level -41.23 | 173.31

Overview

Atawhai Estuary is a kitesurfing spot located in the Atawhai estuary, north of the city of Nelson. This sheltered body of water offers calm conditions, protected by the Boulder Bank and surrounding hills. Northeast (sea breeze) and northwest winds are the most frequent. The estuary is shallow and strongly affected by tides, with vast areas exposed at low tide. It is essential to sail at high tide. The bottom is muddy and sandy. Spot suitable for beginners thanks to the calm and shallow waters.
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Spot forecast for Atawhai Estuary

Sunrise 06:30 · Sunset 19:52

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 4.2 km from the spot.

6:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:00Tue 20Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23Sat 24 Now05:142.8 m11:331.5 m17:552.9 m00:221.4 m06:362.9 m12:461.4 m19:043.1 m01:231.3 m07:373 m13:431.3 m19:573.3 m02:121 m08:263.3 m14:311 m20:433.5 m02:540.8 m09:093.5 m15:120.8 m21:243.7 m
  • Tuesday 20 October High tide · 2.8 m Low tide · 1.5 m High tide · 2.9 m
  • Wednesday 21 October Low tide · 1.4 m High tide · 2.9 m Low tide · 1.4 m High tide · 3.1 m
  • Thursday 22 October Low tide · 1.3 m High tide · 3 m Low tide · 1.3 m High tide · 3.3 m
  • Friday 23 October Low tide · 1 m High tide · 3.3 m Low tide · 1 m High tide · 3.5 m
  • Saturday 24 October Low tide · 0.8 m High tide · 3.5 m Low tide · 0.8 m High tide · 3.7 m

Atawhai Estuary: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

225h

in December · 24 rideable days

The season runs from September to January, peaking in December: 22 rideable days a month and 225 hours of usable wind, at 18 °C. The low point is July, at 8 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 18.5 rideable days J February: 15 rideable days F March: 18 rideable days M April: 13.5 rideable days A May: 13 rideable days M June: 10.5 rideable days J July: 8 rideable days8 d J August: 12 rideable days A September: 23 rideable days S October: 23 rideable days O November: 22 rideable days N December: 24 rideable days24 d D 0 10 20 30 January: 18.5 rideable days J February: 15 rideable days F March: 18 rideable days M April: 13.5 rideable days A May: 13 rideable days M June: 10.5 rideable days J July: 8 rideable days8 d J August: 12 rideable days A September: 23 rideable days S October: 23 rideable days O November: 22 rideable days N December: 24 rideable days24 d D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 85%13-20 knots · 15%21-30 knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 85% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is July, at 12 °C. The wettest month is June, with 230 mm.

Monthly averages: Atawhai Estuary
Monthly averages — Atawhai Estuary — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 18.5 140 h 21 °C 91 mm
February 15.0 114 h 22 °C 80 mm
March 18.0 144 h 20 °C 59 mm
April 13.5 109 h 18 °C 198 mm
May 13.0 102 h 15 °C 99 mm
June 10.5 71 h 13 °C 230 mm
July 8.0 54 h 12 °C 168 mm
August 12.0 85 h 13 °C 92 mm
September 23.0 197 h 14 °C 102 mm
October 23.0 224 h 16 °C 201 mm
November 22.0 194 h 19 °C 105 mm
December 24.0 225 h 21 °C 94 mm

Photo gallery of Atawhai Estuary

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Technical details of Atawhai Estuary spot

N: Rideable NNE: Rideable NE: Rideable ENE: Depending on conditions E: Depending on conditions ESE: Not rideable SE: Not rideable SSE: Not rideable S: Depending on conditions SSW: Depending on conditions SW: Depending on conditions WSW: Depending on conditions W: Rideable WNW: Rideable NW: Rideable NNW: Rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Depending on conditions: ENE, E, S, SSW, SW, WSW.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Beginner

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Live

Nelson Aerodrome AWS11.2 kmsource MetService New Zealand

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Additional stations

  • NELSON AIRPORT AWS11.5 km

    Readings reserved for Premium members

    source WIS2 - WMO

  • ZL2ASC-1314.9 km

    Readings reserved for Premium members

    source CWOP / APRS-IS

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Webcams near Atawhai Estuary

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: Nelson

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