Jan 2006 was a family trip to the South East, with kites. After a lot of 'When are we going to get there?' and 'Jamie is hitting me!''Kellie is not letting me have my toy.' etc.

We rocked up at Granites, 20 kms North of Kingston. It was 18 - 20 knots and I went out on the Boxer 9 into the swell.This place has one of the best set ups I have seen with a nice swell but one which is spread out and not too heavy giving a forgiving ride out the back with plenty of ramps. There is little in the way of crowds, and if there is people swimming or camping there is 90 miles of beach (The name of the beach) to find a spot.

If you want bigger waves or more onshore head north on the beach, if you want smaller swell and more side shore head south. Most of summer you can drive on the beach, check on the day as beach conditions do change.
The wind is South or South Southwest making is side onshore. The sea breese should turn most southerly weather patterns into a nice sea breeze in summer.We camped there for 2 nights, the next day being too hot and northerly for sea breeze and until feeling that we needed a shower. The second night saw a freek South West wind which meant and emergency run back up into the car park with tent and all the stuff, that's tent camping!

Next day we went to Kingston Caravan Park in depserate need of a shower and real bed. Kingston is a great little town which is excellent, the park is very nice and it has the feeling of a country stay, good family spot.

Anyhow for 6 days that we were there I had 5 days of lit up kiting on my Boxer 9 or the Naish Torch II 12m Demo from Onboard.The more I kited it the better it got, this place is one of the best!

Local Rules:

Keep away from other beach users please, this place has so much room that there is NO reason for it to be stuffed up by stupid kiting near swimmers and famillies.If you go south of the Granite rocks, get far enough up wind that you will not hit themWhen jumping be aware that it is shallow a bit further out on low tide, check the depthKeep away from the ramp at the Granites as it is used alot and even though when you first rock up there may be no one there you can be assured a convoy of vehicles will come down and decend upon your gear!Please look after this place, no littering and if you camp there clean up.