Kitesurfing Clifton Beach

Wind & Conditions

Southern Ocean beach 20km SE of Hobart. Faces S-SW into Storm Bay. Roaring-forties westerlies (200-260°, 18-35 kn) year-round, strongest Jun-Aug. Remote, powerful spot for experienced riders; offshore reef breaks nearby.

About Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach sits on Tasmania's southeast coast, about 20km from Hobart, where the land falls away into Storm Bay and the full fetch of the Southern Ocean begins. This is roaring-forties country — the latitude that earned its name from the uninterrupted westerlies that sweep across the ocean unimpeded, and Clifton wears that reality on its sleeve. It's remote, powerful, and the riders who know it treat it accordingly. The beach faces south-southwest, putting it squarely in the firing line of the prevailing westerlies. Wind arrives predominantly in the 200–260° range, carrying genuine Southern Ocean energy — consistent, often gusty, and rarely casual. The usable kite window runs from 100° through to 260°, covering easterly through to southwesterly swings. Strength typically sits in the 18–35 knot range, with the most reliable and powerful sessions arriving between June and August. Year-round sessions are possible when the westerlies fire, but winter is when this place really shows what it can do. Getting here takes a bit of intent. The drive southeast from Hobart puts you on a quiet stretch of Tasmanian coast with limited infrastructure — plan ahead and arrive self-sufficient. There's no kite school or equipment hire on site. Parking is available near the beach access, though the setup area can be fully exposed, so stake your bag and sort your lines before the wind gets hold of things. The water character is Southern Ocean through and through — swell, surface chop, and the irregular texture that comes with genuine open-ocean fetch. Offshore reef breaks sit nearby, adding another variable to manage, particularly on larger swell. This is not a sheltered bay or a flatwater playground; it's open coast with real consequences if things go sideways. Tide shifts the shape of the launch zone and the depth of the shorebreak, so check the state of the tide before you rig. Treat Clifton as an experienced-rider venue. The combination of strong winds, swell, remoteness, and reef means that solid water relaunch skills, the ability to bodyboard downwind in a blow, and sharp situational awareness about the surrounding hazards are all prerequisites rather than optional extras. Help is not close if things go wrong. Accommodation and food are spread across the wider area rather than directly on the beach. Kingston Beach Motel and Foreshore Hotel are practical bases, with South Arm Cabin Retreat and Beach View Apartment offering quieter options closer to the coast. South Arm RSL is another accommodation option in the area. For meals, Driftwood Restaurant, Brine, and Altitude Restaurant and Functions are all within reach, alongside Bombay on the Beach and Bruny Island Wild for those exploring further afield. Clifton Beach rewards riders who come prepared. The wind is real, the scenery is genuinely wild, and the feeling of riding at the edge of the world on a solid southwesterly is something you won't find at a crowded tourist break.

Best Season

Check the Breeza app for the current rideable window at Clifton Beach.

World Ranking

Not globally ranked, but a kitesurf destination — a local favourite worth a check when the wind lines up.

Location

Clifton Beach, Tasmania, Australia, Australia

Lat: -43.023, Lon: 147.476