Drone pic of the lagoon out front
AUSTRALIAN KITE SURFARI HAS NOW BEEN OPERATING FOR TEN SEASONS. SO MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THE EARLY DAYS, BUT SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE, LIKE THE WORLD-CLASS LOCATION AND THE FOCUS ON PROVIDING EXCELLENT SERVICE.
It all began with the passion for excitement and adventure and us wanting to share the fantastic lifestyle we live in Far North Queensland.
We started with tents and a primitive bush shower. The kitesurfing was excellent, but you had to be a hardcore kiter to cope with the remote, harsh beach life. Each year the Surfari crew worked on creating a more comfortable base.
The Cabins on the Beach
The tents are long gone, replaced by cabins made from water tanks. The blow-up mattress replaced by single or double beds. The cold bush shower replaced by a amenities block with instant hot water. Paully has put her creative touch on all of the upgrades to add her flair. All in all the camp and the level of comfort is unrecognisable from its humble beginnings.
The AKS Bus! What a beast.
Even the drive up has been upgraded. The old 4wds have been replaced with a modern purpose built air-conditioned 4wd bus. There is also the option of flying to Cooktown for those who want a quicker route to the Kite Surfari base, just a 45-minute drive from Cooktown.
Ant and Paully have created a world-class, off the grid kitesurfing location. The only way to access the Surfari Base is to drive 4 km up the beach at low tide. As the tide comes in you are landlocked — just your kite crew isolated on this magnificent beach. All the power is created by a solar and wind generator. The water is pumped directly from the sand dunes. Each year the camp becomes more and more self-sustainable with a variety of food grown on site.
Paully
This is what makes the Australian Kite Surfari stand out. No crowds, no shops and a kitesurfing experience run by people whose life is living one big adventure.
The Traditional Owners of this area only allow our groups to kite surf on their Traditional Land. This guarantees no crowds just our crew of like-minded kiters enjoying the perfect conditions without the crowds of other locations.
It’s windy! Time to play
It does not matter what level of service you receive; it does not matter where you go. You need wind to kite. Australian Kite Surfari has gained a worldwide reputation as a reliable, strong wind location. The Trade Winds in this area are relentless. Paully can supply weather statistics that only other places can dream of. Australian Kite Surfari supply excellent customer service with free coaching for those trying to master the basics in perfect conditions to help you progress.
The main kite area is directly out the front of Surfari Base. Walk out of your cabin and pump up, it’s that easy. The bay is only waist deep with clear warm water for hundreds of meters, so if you have a kitemare, you merely walk back to shore. The bottom is mainly sand, not harsh coral, so it’s not aggressive on your feet or your kite.
There are a series of sandbars that go for kilometres that create perfect flat water Lagoons.
There are a few downwind runs with a safety boat that the crew can organise on the seven-day tours.
The cabins are cosy!
There is also a seven-night Surfari with four days of island kiting. This brings the reef and the beach together. Lizard Island, Eagle Island, massive downwind runs following Ribbons Reef and Australian Kite Surfari all in one huge kite fest. The self-drive, self-catering option is available on specific dates during the season and most of the offseason… If you want to tailor your own adventure this is a great option. This has been a hit in the offseason by spear fishermen.
Amazing starry skies
Ant, Paully and their daughter Trinity now all live full time at Surfari Base. Living on site 24/7 you get to know the area, know the season; with the tides and the wildlife you just become part of the ecosystem. They have created an oasis of comfort on a windswept deserted beach. Their motto of living and riding wild and free looks like a reality for them, that many only dream of.
Sunset kites followed by a beer are the best
Once you have visited this fantastic part of Australia, you will understand why so many people come back year after year. There are no unexpected costs on Surfari. All meals and snacks, soft drinks, coffee are provided. There are no shops even if you want to spend money!
This is indeed the greatest winter escape. Let’s see what the next decade brings to Australian Kite Surfari.
