Paragliding Karioitahi B

Karioitahi Beach is one of New Zealand's premier coastal paragliding sites, stretching 35 kilometers from the Waikato River in the south to the Manukau Heads in the north. Located on the West Coast, it's about an hour's drive from downtown Auckland. To get there, take the Southern Motorway, exit at Drury, follow signs to Waiuku, and continue to Karioitahi where the road ends at the beach. **Launch Sites:** 1. **The 'High Site' (The Main Cliff):** Located 300 meters north of the access road, this is the primary launch site for paragliders, especially when the wind is light. 2. **Dunes by the Lifesavers Building:** Situated at the end of the car park, this site is used in strong winds but is rarely frequented. 3. **Restaurant Lawn:** Above the Surf Life Saving Club, this site is sometimes used by paragliders but also serves restaurant functions, so check availability. 4. **'Club Launch' for Hang Gliders:** Located 500 meters south of the restaurant, this site is no longer used for paragliding training. Access requires a 4WD vehicle. 5. **Top Take-off:** Accessed either by walking from the Surf Lifesaving Club or via a private road from the restaurant. This is the main hang gliding launch site. **Landing:** Land on the beach but be cautious of beach traffic, especially during summer and high tide. Avoid landing within 50 meters north and south of the grassy de-rigging area in front of the bottom car park. Watch out for vehicles and motorbikes. **Weather and Wind Direction:** The optimal wind direction is from SSW to WNW. Live weather data and a webcam are available at [Karioitahi Weather](http://www.kariaotahi.mobi/). Note that the wind speed at launch is typically about 5 km/hr higher than indicated due to the inland location of the weather station. For more detailed weather data, visit [Holfuy Weather](https://holfuy.com/en/data/213). **Mandatory Notices:** None. **Site Radio Channel:** Schools typically use Channels 10 and 26. Other pilots use Channel 20 - 476.900MHz. **Restrictions:** - **Hang Gliding:** Novice, Intermediate, and Intermediate + Cliff Launch (Site C). - **Paragliding:** PG2, PG2 + 30 hours for cliff launch (Site C). **Cautions:** - **Wind:** Be aware of the wind direction limits and the higher wind speed at launch. - **Takeoff:** Avoid the top take-off (Site E) in southerly winds due to the risk of being dragged sideways. - **Driving:** Use caution when driving on the beach, especially during mid-tide. Use 4WD vehicles and avoid getting stuck. - **Airspace:** The site is within CTA/C with a height restriction of 2,500 feet A.S.L, reducing to 1,500 feet approximately 8 km north of Karioitahi. **Access Conditions:** The site lessee is the operator of Castaway's Restaurant. The road from the restaurant to the top take-off is restricted access. There is a 10 km/h speed limit when passing through the chalet area. For access, contact club members or the AHGPC Facebook group for the combination lock code. **Site Monitor:** John Burton - 09 5283362 **Site Achievements:** - Hang glider pilot Anton Lawrence has flown from Karioitahi to Whatipu. - Hang glider pilot Carl Dreissen has flown to Pukekohe. - Paraglider pilots Peter Creighton and Jeff Ripley have flown to Waiuku.