Frequently Asked Questions
Brighton Hotel just 2km from Sandgate Beach.
There are also plenty of AirBNBs in the area. Website: https://www.airbnb.com.au/
As Sandgate is on the direct train line from Brisbane Central, many people choose to stay in the city. Website: https://www.expedia.com.au/
Contact us if you require more advice.
If you have made payment and completed the registration/indemnity form, booking confirmation would have been sent to your mobile or by email. If you have not received such notification, but have paid and completed form, please contact our office at info@surfconnect.com, quoting your order number.
If weather is not suitable for your lesson to take place, an email or a text message will be sent to your mobile, so please check your mobile before leaving home on the day.
If you do not hear from us, that means your session is on as scheduled. No need to contact us to check as there may not be anyone at the office, especially on weekends.
Changes of date/time is welcome provided 24 hours notice is given. No shows will void payment/voucher.
If your booking is with a booking agent, 48 hours notice is required.
If you cannot attend due to a medical reason, you may reschedule within 24 hours prior to your booking, provided you can supply a Doctor's note stating you are unfit to attend the said activity, together a $50 rebooking fee.
'No-shows' will result in payment or voucher void.
If you cannot attend due to a medical reason, you may reschedule within 24 hours prior to your booking, provided you can supply a Doctor's note stating you are unfit to attend the said activity, together a $50 rebooking fee.
'No-shows' will result in payment or voucher void.
Booties: It is entirely up to you if you wish to wear booties. Sandgate is all sand bottom, no rocks, but some people prefer to wear booties, some do not. You can buy them at KMart, BigW or Anaconda.
Wetsuits: During summer, you would not need a wetsuit, unless there are jellyfish around. We have wetsuits for rent if required.
All equipment for the lesson is included, unless you have your own.
Sandgate has everything within 50m of the beach - toilets, showers, cafes and fish and chips, kids parks, even free BBQ.
Sandgate Beach is about 10minutes walk from Sandgate Train Station. Sandgate station is on the Shorncliffe line, direct from Brisbane City. Train ride is only just over 30minutes from the City.
Sandgate also has bus services to and from the city and many other suburbs. Details: https://translink.com.au
Location guides for Brisbane, Sunshine and the Gold Coast for Wind, Wing & Kitesurfing
BRISBANE REGION
Sandgate Beach, Sandgate, Qld 4017
Best wind directions: SE/E/NE/N
Conditions: Flat shallow water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Beginners to Advanced
Pros: Shallow, sand bottom, no current, safe, shop and rescue services on location, showers, toilets, free BBQs, cafes and restaurants, public transport: 30 minutes direct train ride from Brisbane City. It will also work on southerly winds at low tide. This is known as the safest and most popular kite beach in Brisbane with kite shop on location. Check webcam on our homepage.
Cons: Limited launching area at high tide. Gusty in southerly directions. Not suitable for offshore directions (westerlies).
Brighton Beach, Brighton, Qld 4017
Best wind directions: S/SE/E/NE
Conditions: Flat shallow water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Beginners to Advanced
Pros: Shallow, sand bottom, no current.
Cons: Limited launching area at high tide. No facilities, not even toilets. Sharp rocks reef north of beach. Gusty in northerly directions. Not suitable for offshore directions (westerlies).
Woody Point, Redcliffe, Qld 4020
Best wind directions: S/SE/E/SW/W
Conditions: Bump & Jump deep water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Intermediate to Advanced
Pros: Works on westerly.
Cons: Rocks, sailing club, gusty, deep water.
Queens Beach, Redcliffe, Qld 4020
Best wind directions: SE/E/NE/N
Conditions: Bump & Jump deep water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Intermediate to Advanced
Pros: Deep swells, clean SE
Cons: Rocks, reefs, deep water.
Scarborough, Redcliffe, Qld 4020
Best wind directions: W/NW/N/NE
Conditions: Bump & Jump deep water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Intermediate to Advanced
Pros: Works on westerly.
Cons: Oyster beds, rocks.
Wellington Point, Qld 4160
Best wind directions: All directions
Conditions: Flat water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Intermediate to Advanced
Pros: Works on westerly.
Cons: Gusty, rocks, mud, cannot rig up above high tide mark (council's ban).
Victoria Point, Qld 4165
Best wind directions: All directions
Conditions: Flat water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Intermediate to Advanced
Pros: Works on westerly.
Cons: Gusty, rocks, mud, cannot rig up above high tide mark (council's ban).
POPULAR SPOTS ON THE SUNSHINE COAST REGION:
Beachmere
Bribie Island
Golden Beach, Caloundra
Bullcock Beach, Caloundra
Currimundi, Dicky's Beach
Kawana
Coolum
Peregian
Marcus beach
Sunrise Beach
Maroochyedore river mouth
Noosa river mouth
Lake Weyba
Lake Cootharaba
POPULAR SPOTS ON THE GOLD COAST REGION:
Shearwater Esplande, Runaway Bay, Qld 4216
Loders Creek, Qld 4215
Narrowneck, Gold Coast
Currumbin, Gold Coast
Westerlies
Whilst there are venues you can play on westerlies, take extreme care as offshore winds are gusty and inconsistent. You will also need booties at most places. But possible westerlies venues are: Gold Coast: Broadwater Seaworld side (watch water traffic (small and BIG boats, jetskis and seaplanes), Brisbane: Wellington Point (watch hidden rocks/shells, also avoid high tide as no sandbanks to catch you, also launching/landing not allowed above high tide mark, left of Hornibrook Bridge (only works at mid tide, also very shallow so not suitable for foil/windsurf), Clontarf (rocks northern half of beach), Woody Point (rocks everywhere), Scarborough (Oyster beds), Sunshine Coast: Bongaree, Double Island Point. Moreton Island: Western side.
Always check with locals for hazards and safety awareness.
Parking is all free along Sandgate beach.
If a lesson is cancelled due to weather, you may opt for a refund or reschedule to a date that suits you. Note all refunds incur a 2% non-refundable card fee charged by Shopify.
There are no refunds on vouchers.
All participants must complete registration and indemnity form prior to booking confirmation. Form link:
You are welcome to store your personal belongings securely in our van during your lesson. Whilst the van is kept locked at all times whilst unattended, we do not accept any liabilities for any loss or damage.
If you have a voucher with a third party company, please contact the voucher company to make bookings.
If you have a Surf Connect voucher, please email a copy of your voucher to info@surfconnect.com together with the date you would like to book in.
Kitesurfing:
For first lessons, you would normally spend about 30-45minutes on land, going through all the safety, theory, setup, and basic land drills, then the rest of your lesson will be on water.
You will be flying a full size kite, learning all you need about kite control, body dragging, relaunching and all essential kite skills. When you can demonstrate competency in kite control, you will be taught to ride the board. Riding the board normally happens in the second lesson. Learning how to kitesurf is like learning how to drive a car. Some people can get up riding within 3 hours, some may need longer.
We conduct an evaluation at the end of each lesson and give you a copy to take home. That way you know exactly what you have learnt and accomplished in that lesson, and what still needs to be learnt.
Kitesurfing is an extreme sport that carries a high degree of danger, so very important you have all the basic skills before going on your own.
You can also see our detailed lesson plan at the booking/payment page.
WingFoiling:
In your first lesson, you will spend about 30-45minutes on land, going through all the safety, theory, setup, and basic land drills, then the rest of your lesson is conducted on water.
Depending on wind conditions, the instructor may teach you on a paddleboard with a wing in the first water session, before progressing onto an actual wingfoil board.
You can also see our detailed lesson plan at the booking/payment page.
Windsurfing:
In your first lesson, you will spend about 30-45minutes on land, going through all the safety, theory, setup and basic land drills, then the rest of your lesson is conducted on water.
Over the 2 hours, you should learn all the skills to know how to sail out, turn around and sail back to shore, together with the basic self-rescue skills.
You will also receive a 10% discount code for all future lessons, and after your learning, you can lo claim back what you spent on the first 4 hours of lessons against any of our packages in stock.
Wear comfortable clothing you can get in the water with. Cap and long sleeves shirts recommended for sun protection. Sunscreen and sunnies too. We have rash shirts and sunnies for sale. Please advise before 5pm the day before your lessons if you require them.
as our activities are totally weather dependent, if the wind/weather is not suitable (i.e. too much or not enough wind), a text message will be sent to your mobile. So please ensure you check your mobile before leaving home on the day. If you do not hear from us, that means your session is on as scheduled.
Arrive at least 10minutes before your booked in time.
Please meet your instructor at the Surf Connect’s van, which is parked opposite 164 Flinders Parade, Sandgate, Qld 4017. In case you are using GPS navigation to find us, make sure you type in ‘Sandgate’ after Flinders Parade as there are a few Flinders Parade around.