Australia
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.
The wind data shown here comes from ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) over 4 years, reprocessed to reflect realistic conditions.
👉 Average wind has been calibrated to avoid the usual underestimation of models.
👉 Gusts have been corrected by a median ratio to avoid unrealistic extreme values.
👉 Each day is summarized by the median wind (P50) observed during useful hours (8am–8pm), then classified into wind ranges.
👉 The weighted mode mixes average wind and gusts to best reflect felt wind.
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.
The depth is very shallow, knee to waist deep in the lagoon, with a sandy bottom everywhere. You can stand in most of the area, perfect for beginners but limits high jumps.
The water is warm year-round around 26-28°C, shorty in winter (June-August), lycra or stinger suit in summer for protection.
