Kite Destinations, Kitesurfing Spots

Kitesurfing the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are more than just a kite vacation. The long flight is worth it from three weeks and will not only bring your kite skills to the next level, but also influence your personality and attitude towards life. Turquoise water, trade winds and "Island Time" will be the inspiration towards yourself.

Kite Spot Check

Hotspot

Aitutaki

Best time

June – October

Riding Level

Starting at beginner level

Water temperatures

ø 25 °C

Kite sizes

9, 10, 11, 12, 14 & 15

Best wind direction

East

Deceleration on Rarotonga - Combine "Island Time" and dream conditions at the kite spot Muri Beach

A resounding, almost laughed, “Kia Orana” welcomes you when arriving on Rarotonga. These warm words spread a feeling of coming home and contentment in your whole body.

The mood rises further noticing that it only takes an hour from picking up the kite bags in Avarua to launching the kite on the sandy beach of Muri Beach, given the right conditions.

While the TwinTip glides through crystal clear, turquoise-blue water, you realize that you had the kite in the sky so quickly because the distances are short and things that otherwise seem complicated are easy on “Raro”.

The lightness accompanies visitors on the somewhat different kite trip and lets them arrive at “Island Time”, laugh at themselves and perceive kitesurfing, no matter at what level, from a new perspective. Stable trade winds, warm hospitality and a very special culture make the time on the Cook Islands unforgettable.

Why the flight is worth it & info about the spot

In short: Two weeks, rather three to four, should be planned during the trade wind period between June and October, so that the trip is worthwhile. If you are flexible and looking for a new experience, the Cook Islands are the right place for you!

Various, mostly shallow, lagoons can be reached by motor scooter in 10-15 minutes and you can even fly to the neighboring island of Aitutaki within 45 minutes, which makes the heart of all kitesurfers beat faster – promised!

As a base, it is recommended to head for Muri Beach on Rarotonga first. There you can get information about the current conditions at “KiteSUP Cook Islands“, a kite school on the east coast, which is located directly at the biggest lagoon of the island. Ina and Brynn know the island inside out and can not only give information about the wind in the next few days, but also gladly invite you to a night SUP tour with fire show, yoga, snorkeling tours or a drink together on the beach.

If the trade winds are on and the sun is shining, there is usually a constant and warm (2 mm shorty is enough) easterly wind between 12 and 20 knots from morning to night. The lagoon seems small at first and the onshore wind challenges even experienced kitesurfers to overcome the windward congestion of the palm trees and mountains behind.

After three to four strokes, more space and with a much stronger wind at your back, you can lift your eyes and soak up the incomprehensible atmosphere of Muri Beach: Rarotonga’s mountains remind you of Hawaii’s skyline from the water, colorful fish swim below you, waves thunder onto the reef about 100 m away in the back, the drums and chants of the Lagoon Cruise boats can be heard from the distance, and small choppy waves invite you to make loaded pops and rotations.

Photographer: Jana Welsch

Only known by locals

From Muri Beach, you can make a wonderful downwinder to Charlie’s Beach Bar in easterly winds and strong swells that wash more water into the lagoon but break outside of it. Beer from the local brewery and freshly caught fish in a sandwich make the downwinder the perfect experience.

There is always more wind on Aitutaki! If the weather doesn’t cooperate, it’s worth booking one of the twice daily flying machines to Aitutaki. On Aitutaki Mike will drive you with his boat and kite equipment to Honeymoon Island, which is much more exposed than Rarotonga and therefore gets more wind.

The lonely pair of flip-flops on the beach

On Rarotonga, it is popular among locals and tourists to take a spin on the “Party Bus” on the weekend. The concept of the “Party Bus” is simple:

Rarotonga is circumnavigated by car in about 40 minutes and there are bars and clubs along the way. The “Party Bus” drives around the island from bar to bar in one night.

My roommate and colleague at the time, Ram, got along very well with someone that night and was not on the bus at the last stop, our home. He also didn’t show up for breakfast in the morning.

I didn’t think much of it and ran to the beach to go swimming. Where normally our SUPs were stored there were no more SUPs but instead two pairs of flip-flops – his and a pair I didn’t know. I looked over to the small island populated by palm trees and reachable in a few strokes by SUP, knew immediately what happened and had to grin.

When Ram appeared in the kitchen a few hours later, completely overtired and covered in sand he asked, “Did you see my jandals (flip-flops)?” I had to laugh out loud and thought, “Only on Raro…”