Mount Maunganui coast and the Tauranga harbor are formed geographically in such a way to make it a paradise for foilers and watersport enthusiasts in general as you can ride in any wind direction and it is well exposed to the South Pacific swells.
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SPOT MAP
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WING FOIL
Go wing foiling in any wind direction and tide
SURF
Where to go foiling waves around Mount Maunganui
DOWNWIND
What conditions do I need to foil downwind
WINGFOIL: Flat water and harbor chop
The area is subjected to winds from all direction and speeds, from light to very strong which makes every session different. Depending on your level and whether you want flat water, chop to downwind on or wave ride , within a small area you can find all conditions. Here is a guide with some of the most popular WING FOIL locations.
Harbor enclosed waters locations (mind the tides)
-Kulim Park
Overview: One of the most popular locations for Tauranga wing foilers, kiteboarders and windsurfers. Carpark close to water. Flat water or small chop.
Suitable Wind direction: SW, W, NW, N, NE, E, SE
Suitable Tides: Mid tides and high tide. Gets shallow on low tide.
-Sulphur Point: Yatch Club
Overview: Confident riders only. Car park close to water access straight to deep water channel, grassy area to set up. Currents can be very strong, understand what to expect. Wind against tide often creates nice surfy downwind wave.
Suitable Wind direction: Anything but South.
Suitable Tides: Any tide, best around low and high still points. Note that incoming tide brings strong current going from E to W and vice versa with outgoing tide.
-Sulphur Point: “Speed Creek”
Overview: Carpark close to water access on the west side of Sulphur Point peninsula, just south of boat yard and marina. With the low tide there is a dry sand bar upwind of the channel that creates perfectly flat water. One of our favorite spots for wing foil lessons and riding butter smooth water.
Suitable Wind direction: SW, W, NW
Suitable Tides: Any tide, best around low.
Notes: S and N wind work but only with still tide or wind against tide.
-Pilot Bay
Overview: Beautiful bay at the foot of Mauao. Can be busy with swimmers and water goers in summer months.
Suitable Wind direction: NW, W, SW, S, SSE
Suitable Tides: Any. Current becomes strong as you get closer to the deeper channel.
-Tauranga waterfront: Trinity wharf
Overview: Confident riders only. Park on Drive Cres, just South of Trinity Wharf, small access to water straight into deep channel. Tide flow can be strong.
Suitable Wind direction: E, SE
Suitable Tides: Any. Best around slack tides.
-Matapihi
Overview: Carpark at the end of Matapihi Road.
Suitable Wind direction: SSE, S, SW
Suitable Tides: Any. Lower tide creates a big beach.
-Fergusson Park
Overview: Popular location for kiteboarders. Wing foilers water access close to boar ramp. Bit more exposed than Kulim Park on SW wind but generally choppier water surface.
Suitable Wind direction: SW, W, NW
Suitable Tides: Any. Best with mid to high incoming tide to an two hours after high.
WINGFOIL: Wave location on Mount Maunganui Coast
-Main Beach
Overview: Confident riders only as often busy with surfers. Rip current along Leisure Island allow getting at the back easily in bigger waves. Dumpy shore brake in the middle of beach.
Suitable Wind direction: N, NE
Suitable Tides: Any
-Playgrounds
Overview: Also known as Shark Alley, located between Motuotao (Rabbit) island and Mussle rock. This is an amazing surf foil waves, often easier to access water than Tay Street when the swell is big.
Suitable Wind direction: NNW, N, NNE, SSE. Stiff offshore (W and SW) winds are good too for confident riders.
Suitable Tides: Any
-Tay Street or anywhere along the coast
Overview: The coast can have many faces depending on wind strength and swell size. Often offers amazing condition with lines of swell for perfect long foil rides in northerly seabreezes, SE winds of offshore W winds.
Suitable Wind direction: NW, N, NE, E, SE. Stiff offshore winds (W, SW) are good too for confident riders.
Suitable Tides: Any. Lower tide creates a big beach.
DOWNWIND FOIL:
The area offer good downwind foil locations, both inside the harbor with wind-against-tide channels and off the coast along Mount Maunganui shore line with cross shore winds.
If you come visit make sure to bring your downwind board and paddle or get in touch to team up for some rides upwind or Jetski tow-up downwinds on small boards.
SUP/PRONE SURF FOIL and TOW-IN FOILING:
Mount Maunganui has great surfing waves sometime and amazing foiling waves pretty much any day of the summer. Banks along the coast are shifty but you can always find good foiling brakes. ”Playgrounds” (see above) is a great spot that can create minutes long rides on a single wave, best at lower tides with small to medium waves.
A close by island has world class surf brakes and world class tow-in foil wave that goes for kilometers. Charter one of our jetski and an experienced driver will tow you on some of the best waves this stretch of coast can offer.