Port Melbourne / Victoria / Australia

This is an advanced spot that requires windsurfers and kite surfers to be able to travel up wind. As the name suggests, it is right by the port and is a convenient spot for the centre of Melbourne.

The beach is sandy and it's quite small, with the road running behind it and the port wall on the west end. It isn't really a place that attracts crowds though, so you should be able to find enough space to set up and launch safely.  Temperatures in this part of Australia are cooler than many others, with highs of about 20° C in summer and lows of about 12 or 13° C in winter.

The season here starts in November and ends in March, with the best winds being the thermals that come from the south-east or the south, although east winds are also possible and are usable. It's quite a sheltered bay, so in terms of wind speed you're looking at between 10 and 20 knots. The water is never flat, and moves between being choppy and having waves 2 or 3 m high.

You can get here by tram, or drive and park up just at the side of the beach. You won't find any facilities here, no toilets or showers, but the heart of Melbourne is very close and offers everything you might need from accommodation to food to nightlife.

Don’t get too close to the ferry, avoid swimmers on hot summer days, watch out for the concrete walls of the port, and keep an eye out for boats and jet skis. Easy.