Castle Rock
📍 Canterbury , Christchurch City · Nearest city: Christchurch (8 km)
17 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 12 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
-43.59090, 172.69800Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-21 02:26 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Marginal conditions, cloud base ~626 m, wind 24 km/h.
base ~626m · wind 24 km/hNot recommended for flying, cloud base ~600 m, wind 21 km/h, precipitation 0.8 mm.
base ~600m · wind 21 km/h · precip 0.8mmMarginal conditions, cloud base ~800 m, wind 4 km/h.
base ~800m · wind 4 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
🌬 Daily wind (next days)
Daily summary (10m wind). Full hour × altitude chart is being added progressively.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 0 | Low |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.00 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.57 | Slope faces north in southern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
1km West of the Mt Cavendish Gondola.
Rules and notes
3500 feet maximum altitude unless air traffic control has been contacted.
Nearby sites
Cass Bay (2) · The Gondola (Christchurch) (10) · Britten Reserve (4) · Barnett Park (14) · Van Ash (8) · Taylors Mistake (12)