Ayr - Alva Beach
Australia
Ayr
Alva Beach, located near Ayr in Queensland, Australia, features a tidal lagoon prized by kitesurfers for its super flat water. About 1 hour and 20 minutes south of Townsville, it is an accessible spot with free parking at the surf lifesaving club and a large shaded grassy area for setup. The beach is wide with fine sand, perfect for launching even at low tide.
The spot works at all tides, with shallow water ideal for beginners but too shallow for safe foiling. Locals enjoy its wild atmosphere, bordered by sand dunes and bushes, in the rainy shade of the Whitsunday Islands.
Les données de vent affichées ici proviennent d’ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) sur 4 ans, retraitées pour refléter des conditions réalistes.
👉 Le vent moyen a été calibré pour éviter la sous-estimation habituelle des modèles.
👉 Les rafales ont été corrigées par un ratio médian afin d’éviter des valeurs extrêmes irréalistes.
👉 Chaque jour est résumé par le vent médian (P50) observé pendant les heures utiles (8h–20h), puis classé dans des plages de vent.
👉 Le mode pondéré mélange vent moyen et rafales pour refléter au mieux le vent ressenti.
- 🟢 10–16 nds : vent faible mais navigable (notamment en foil).
- 🟡 16–22 nds : plage idéale, conditions confortables pour la majorité.
- 🔴 22–28 nds : vent fort, réservé aux riders expérimentés.
- 🟣 28+ nds : conditions extrêmes, navigation engagée.
Localisation & Points d'intérêt
Informations utiles
flatflatThe wind typically comes from the SE, ESE or SSE for a perfect side-on or onshore on the lagoon, with strengths rising in the middle of the day towards the ESE/E. The orientation of the beach favors a super flat water surface in the tidal lagoon, especially at rising tide where small puddles and basins form for freestyle sessions. The riding area extends over a large sandy area, with a deeper main channel; easy launch from the wide beach, takeoff on the shaded grass of the Surf Lifesaving Club. At low tide, the space is immense but the water drops to knee height, perfect for twintip but risky for jumps; at high tide, more depth and rideable areas. Works best in run-in tide, all tides ok, with little chop thanks to the natural shelter.
Ideal in winds ESE, SE, SSE at 12-25 kts, side-on on the lagoon for perfect flat freestyle. Best at rising tide for more space and depth.
The water surface is super flat in the lagoon, with knee-waist deep water; minimal chop except in strong winds. Possibility of small waves on the outer edge according to sources, but primarily flat to light chop. Clear water over sand.
Currents are weak in the lagoon due to its natural enclosure, but beware of tides that influence the water level. No strong channel reported, but the tidal flow can drain into the open sea.
Opt for sizes 9 to 12m² in typical winds 10-20 kts; smaller 7-9m when it picks up to 20+ kts in the afternoon.
The wind regime is dominated by the sea breeze that rises in the morning from the NE/ENE in spring-summer, then shifts to ESE/SE at moderate to fresh strength in the afternoon, with peaks of 15-20 kts. The best trade winds are consistent from September to July, reinforced by the sea-land effect. Typical strength: 10-15 kts in the morning, rising to 20+ kts at noon.
The climate is warm year-round in this region of Queensland, with temperatures around 26-29°C during the day. The Australian winter (June-August) is mild, sometimes requiring a shorty, while summer (December-March) is very hot and humid. The spot benefits from regular sunshine thanks to the rainy shade of the Whitsundays.
La profondeur est très faible, knee à waist deep dans la lagune, fond sableux partout. On a pied sur la majorité de la zone, parfait pour débutants mais limite les sauts hauts.
The water is warm year-round around 26-28°C, shorty in winter (June-August), lycra or stinger suit in summer for protection.