Scarborough Cliffs
📍 Canterbury , Christchurch City · Nearest city: Christchurch (13 km)
11 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 70 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
-43.57750, 172.77700Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-21 02:52 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Marginal conditions, cloud base ~643 m, wind 24 km/h.
base ~643m · wind 24 km/hNot recommended for flying, cloud base ~612 m, wind 21 km/h, precipitation 0.8 mm.
base ~612m · wind 21 km/h · precip 0.8mmMarginal conditions, cloud base ~815 m, wind 4 km/h.
base ~815m · 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 | 0.38 | Slope faces north in southern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Take the road to Taylors Mistake beach from Sumner, look for the track down to the left about 400 meters from the high point of the road.
Rules and notes
Maximum altitude 3500 feet.
Pilot comments
This is a PG3 rated site for good reason, you must get a site briefing before flying here.
Nearby sites
Taylors Mistake (12) · Van Ash (8) · Barnett Park (14) · Britten Reserve (4) · The Gondola (Christchurch) (10) · Castle Rock (17)