Western Australia – Leighton Beach

Welcome to Leighton, Perth’s urban kite hub and a summer classic. Just north of Fremantle, this wide open beach is your go-to for reliable afternoon seabreezes, especially when the Fremantle Doctor kicks in from the SW — cross-onshore and smooth as silk.

The launch zone is generous, with loads of space to rig and ride, but it gets busy. Expect a mix of twintippers, foilers, and beachgoers, so stay aware and keep it chill. Best wind arrives from November through March, with prime sessions from 2pm onwards as the breeze fills in.

Perfect for confident beginners and up, but the occasional shore dump and beach crowd can make launching tricky for first-timers. If that’s you, consider heading slightly north to Port Beach for a quieter scene.

Wingfoilers often favour the area a little further south near the groyne, where it’s a touch more protected and the setup suits a slower, more cruisy launch — just keep an eye out for wind shadows and swimmers.

The vibe? Classic Perth. Park your van, ride until golden hour, and grab a beer at Bib & Tucker after. Just watch the wind shadows closer to the groyne and give the surf lifesaving zone a wide berth — respect the locals and you’ll be sweet.

Let’s just say, if you're in the Perth metro and the forecast shows SW, Leighton’s calling.