Overview

Pakawau is a kitesurf spot located in Golden Bay, Tasman region, on the South Island of New Zealand. This small coastal village is on the road leading to Farewell Spit and benefits from the regular winds of Golden Bay. The beach offers easy water access. The prevailing winds come from the northwest and west. The spot is suitable for beginner to intermediate kitesurfers in the sheltered waters of the bay. The setting is quiet and uncrowded. It is a convenient alternative to Farewell Spit without the long access walk.

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Spot forecast for Pakawau

Sunrise 06:33 · Sunset 19:54

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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

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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 6 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 05:30 · 2.8 m Low tide 11:44 · 1.5 m High tide 18:09 · 2.9 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 00:32 · 1.4 m High tide 06:49 · 2.9 m Low tide 12:56 · 1.4 m High tide 19:16 · 3.1 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 01:32 · 1.3 m High tide 07:48 · 3 m Low tide 13:53 · 1.2 m High tide 20:08 · 3.3 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 02:21 · 1 m High tide 08:36 · 3.3 m Low tide 14:40 · 1 m High tide 20:53 · 3.5 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 03:04 · 0.8 m High tide 09:19 · 3.5 m Low tide 15:22 · 0.8 m High tide 21:34 · 3.7 m

Pakawau: 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

336h

in September · 28.5 rideable days

The season runs from September to January, peaking in September: 25 rideable days a month and 336 hours of usable wind, at 17 °C. The low point is July, at 13.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 47%13-20 knots · 50%21-30 knots · 4%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 13 and 20 knots — 50% of rideable hours. That is the most versatile range, where most kites work. The coldest month is July, at 12 °C. The wettest month is June, with 288 mm.

Monthly averages: Pakawau

Monthly averages — Pakawau — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	21.0	222 h	20 °C	123 mm
February	20.5	246 h	20 °C	77 mm
March	23.5	253 h	19 °C	62 mm
April	17.0	176 h	18 °C	252 mm
May	17.5	172 h	15 °C	136 mm
June	15.0	141 h	13 °C	288 mm
July	13.5	107 h	12 °C	267 mm
August	17.0	178 h	13 °C	167 mm
September	28.5	336 h	14 °C	162 mm
October	26.0	344 h	15 °C	239 mm
November	24.5	323 h	18 °C	138 mm
December	24.5	335 h	19 °C	123 mm

Photo gallery of Pakawau

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Technical details of Pakawau spot

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

Depending on conditions: NNE, 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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EW7144 Collingwood NZ5 kmsource madis - NOAA

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Nearby spots

All spots: Tasman

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Pakawau kitesurf and wingfoil spot