Perth – Cottesloe (Dutch Inn)

Welcome to Perth’s picture-perfect postcard — Cottesloe. With turquoise water, white sand, and polished foot traffic, it’s more café-culture than kite-culture. But on the rare days the SW seabreeze shows up clean and early, Dutchies can flick a smile your way.

This is a strictly intermediate to advanced location. A shallow reef lines the coast, leaving little margin for error. Gusty side-on winds and narrow launch zones mean you need to be dialled in and confident. Butter-flat pockets can form between the reef fingers, but the ride is always twitchy.

When you're setting up, head south of the groyne near the Dutch Inn. That’s the only legit launch zone — between Rosendo and Princess Streets. You’ll need your KA/WAKSA membership tag visible, and yeah, the council keeps an eye on things here. No launching off the grass unless you want a spray from the locals. Watch your lines too — this stretch is busy, and you’ll be sharing sand with swimmers, SUPs, wedding shoots, and the odd beach cricket match.

When it works, it’s tight but thrilling — the kind of session you chalk up for rarity, not reliability. If it’s too sketchy, just call it and hit Leighton or Woodies down the coast. Better breeze, more space, and fewer rules.

If the wind ghosts? Pull up a patch of grass, grab a cold one at the Cott Hotel, and watch the Indian Ocean set the sky on fire. Not every session needs a kite in the air.