Port Waikato
📍 Auckland · Nearest city: Waiuku (17 km)
12 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 90 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
-37.40220, 174.70800Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-21 02:49 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Flyable day, decent conditions, cloud base ~602 m, wind 22 km/h.
base ~602m · wind 22 km/hMarginal conditions, cloud base ~880 m, wind 21 km/h.
base ~880m · wind 21 km/hFlyable day, decent conditions, cloud base ~916 m, wind 18 km/h.
base ~916m · wind 18 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 | 0.39 | Slope faces north in southern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
On arrival at Sunset Beach there is a grassed area to the left of the toilet block and, on the southern side of this grassed area a private driveway access and little bridge across a small creek. Pass beyond the small bridge and you will find the obscure beginnings of the track which runs up through toitoi bushes and along the ridge heading south from the beach. Hang gliders have previously used a launch located a short way along this track. This small launch area is on the edge of the cliff and is unsuitable for paragliders. The second top takeoff point is further up the same track where it exits the bush onto a large rounded hilltop. On strong days it is also possible to launch from the sand dunes immediately in front of the cliffs to the left of the carpark and beach entrance area.
Rules and notes
This site is located just within the boundary of CTA/C with a height restriction of 2,500 feet.
Pilot comments
Take care when soaring in the bowl to the south of the top takeoff as switches in wind direction can result in one or other side of this bowl being in rotor.
Nearby sites
Maioro (3) · Karioitahi E (5) · Karioitahi A (5) · Puketutu (23) · Raglan (10) · Pukemore (6)