Caloundra Tourism

Caloundra and surrounds has some amazing kitesurf destinations – warm clear waters and consistent predictable winds. There are flat water options in current or still; there are surf options for points, reef, or beach breaks. This guide will help the traveller locate the best place to ride for the variety of conditions mother nature offers us.

Caloundra Passage

Otherwise known as Happys or Bulcock, the stretch of water between Bulcock Beach, past Happy Valley and to Caloundra Bar offers world class flat water riding. The best kiting is on east or SE winds, but the Passage also works on southerly, ENE and even the gusty SW winds for the desperate. It’s important to kite with the wind opposing the tide so be sure to check your tide times. The tide will change direction in the passage approximately 2 hours after the change in the ocean. So 2 hours after the published high tide, the water start to flow out of the passage. The sand is constantly shifting and exposing bedrock, so take care to find the safest launch spot and note the submerged hazards. The lifeguard service operates red and yellow swimming flags on Bulcock Beach on weekends, school holidays and during the summer months. Take care not to kite near the bathing reserve on Bulcock Beach. In really busy times the crowd here can be intense. The map below shows the time-honoured unwritten rules of where to kite when its busy. Kiting the bar can be awesome fun with the waves peeling off the protruding sand banks, but kitesurfers are very exposed to danger here, especially in light or unreliable winds. Take extra care.

Golden Beach

The thin strip of sand adjacent to the white steel lighthouse on Golden Beach Esplanade is the favoured spot to kite from. Golden Beach works on the incoming tide in straight south winds. When the wind comes more from the SE it gets disturbed by Bribie Island and gets lighter and more turbulent. Take extra care on the beach launching. Golden Beach should not be kited in easterly winds. The sand bars of the Pumicestone Passage provide excellent learning grounds in the right conditions.

Moffat Point

Riding the waves of Moffat point is for expert kiters only. Dropping your kite here will result in being washed up on the rocks or worse, a potential tangle with other water users. This point is a favourite surf spot, so even in strong onshore winds, there are usually a few die hards out there who are generally unaccustomed to sharing the wave with kiters. The spot really only works well for kiters in ESE winds ; SE winds can also be ridden here but beware the wind shadow behind the headland. To get there you can either launch from Shelly Beach and ride downwind to the point, or tack upwind from Ann St or Neil St, where you can get clean wind.

Moffat Reef

Access to this little beauty is the same as for Moffat point. The reef is an irresistible temptation on downwind runs from the point, however it rarely satisfies to expectations. The wave is shifty and short, but when you do get in one its very memorable.

Ann St Reef

This is a favourite start or end point to the downwind runs of Caloundra’s open beaches, but it’s a great spot to tack if cant organize a car drop. Anns is also a favourite surf spot so show respect for the paddlers.

Currimundi

Currimundi is a great spot for wave riding and beach skills practice. Learners find the open space north of the creek mouth appealing, while wave riders enjoy the sand banks pushed out by the creek itself.

Wurtulla

Wurtulla offers perhaps the steepest and most hollow waves of all of Caloundra’s beaches. There is a rock reef which is sometimes hard to pinpoint so take care. The best kiting section is well south of the flagged area and reef.

Bokarina to Point Cartwright

The northern stretch offers excellent downwind wave riding potential. There is easy access to the road behind the dunes and plenty of access points through the dunes. Take care to avoid kiting near the swimming flags at Kawana.

Mooloolaba

The unique aspect of Mooloolaba allows for kiting NW winds. It will be gusty and downwind to the rock groin, so this spot is for advanced riders only, but it is a great spot to get easy access in NW conditions. You’ll often score it with nice little kickers rolling in from around the point. Take care with the crowded beach and stay well downwind of the flagged swimming area.