Hello.....I am thinking of relocating to Aus for 12 months from NZ and would like to find out where some of the good sailing spots are on the east coast. I have read about Burrum Heads, lake Macquarie. We try to sail over here in 20-40 knots as much as poss so would be looking to live somewhere close to a similar spot.
Definitely check out Elliott Hds near Bundaberg. It's 60-70km north of Burrum Heads, and has better B&J, as the water is a bit deeper is more open to ocean. Burrum is tucked away in the pocket between the mainland and Fraser, but Elliott Hds is level with the northern tip. Fraser curves away from the coast opening it up a lot. It gets good northelies in spring and a few SW in winter. December/Jan can be quiet, as can everywhere in Oz, except remote WA, but it can howl as well
The SE trades on the East coast of Oz are some of the most regular winds anywhere.
Bundy is a nice big town with lots of other stuff going on , property is affordable and the water is warm and safe, no stingers, crocs or sharks worth talking about.
The estuary is a great learners spot, with an awesome speed bank, and you can sail straight out front to the ocean.
My biggest sail there was a 5.7, and I frequently used 4.7 and one year a 4.0 about two dozen times at 80kg.
Definitely windy.
Lake Macquarie can be excellent for flat water jumps, just need some decent wind, Valentine Park in a big Southerly can be a load of fun or off coal point in a North Easter, both spots usually get decent wind swell and not choppy..
B and J is my second name
why no qustions for WA or VIC?? and melbourne is B and J city my friend. We have the biggest bay in Australia with gorge like swell a hundred miles long
B an J spots:
summer spots:
Green point NW
Ricketts point East, SE
Elwood SW
Dendy st SW
St. kilda SW
winter spots:
RYE in a N,NW,W
Ricketts in a Westly
Green point again in a NW
Hazelwood as well in a Swestly cold front is great
Winter is the best chance when you will get alot of 20-40 knots days and early spring
thanks for the feedback Aussies. Will do some research on these spots. Am heading to Melbourne in early Nov so will bring my wetsuit and hopefully there is a rental gear shop close by. We are staying in St Kilda.
Bundy does sound more like us though. The wife and kids are ready for some warm temps and beach life instead of the poohs weather we get here in Christchurch NZ. Water temp here now is 8deg.
But Paulsuth, If you like the more laid back areas, wich are great for windsurfing away from the City, you should then check out some places on the ocean side of Vic like Inverloch or sandy point. I sail thease places alot in summer cause the wind is alot better
Bleeding 'orrible place to take a family to live though.
Bundy is exactly like Maui North Shore. Laid back, cane fields, volcano, warm water, strong wind, but has loads of stuff for family and wives, and not too far from Noosa or Brisbane.
Melb in early Nov? You have to head west to get there.......that time of the year just keep heading west and check out Geraldton...... bet you don't leave
Melb in early Nov? You have to head west to get there.......that time of the year just keep heading west and check out Geraldton...... bet you don't leave
what kiwi does
Sounds like single bloke heaven.
Just curious, has Kato bought land there, or is the "own" figurative ?
I get bored too easily to think about living somewhere too small or isolated.
For a one year thing, a plan that would take in all the good spots, including Sandy Point and WA sounds like the go. Sort a Winner-Bagel and plan for WA in high summer, Bundy in late summer/autumn, FNQ in winter, and Sandy Point in spring. Lots of other good spots like Bowen/Ayr, various places just above and below Brisbane on teh Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Ballina/Lennox, Yamba, Newcastle that you can check out between FNQ and SP as you go down the coast.
Dunno what kids you have, but a year of home school won't kill em. Probably learn more than they would in uniform.
yeah I have heard a lot about Geraldton......quite a few dudes over here have spent time up there. What is Coffs Harbour like for higher winds?
The east coast guys may correct me here but lower Vic is all over in Nov (fronts all passed by early Oct?) and upper east coast summer hs not started.
That is why I said WA (if you at all can) as Geraldton will be pumping in Nov
Should mention too, there was a retired guy in Bundy who logged all his days.
I recall him sailing over 200 days in one year. He was a lightweight, but he only used small wave gear too, no Formula or medium/large slalom rig at all.
