Anja Fritzsche, from Germany, made the most of the sun and the wind kitesurfing in Tahunanui Beach, in Nelson, on Sunday.

Nelson's Tahunanui Beach was popular with watersports fanatics this week as temperatures reached the high 20s, writes Amy Ridout. Photos by Luz Zuniga.

Until recently Anja Fritzsche was scared of the water. But a few months ago, just in time for a scorching New Zealand summer, she decided it was time to conquer her fear. She began some ocean swimming and this week the German national took a few days off from an internship studying bats in Pelorus, Marlborough, to try kite boarding at nearby Nelson.

As the name suggests, kiteboarding involves being pulled along by a kite with your feet firmly attached to a large board through a harness system - a novel way to ride the waves. It was Fritzsche's third day learning the sport, and fickle winds at Tahunanui Beach, on the shore of Tasman Bay, had made for a trying few hours, she said.

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LUZ ZUNIGA Water sports enthusiasts from all over the world enjoyed the goodies of Tahunanui Beach, in Nelson, during the weekend.

While the beach is more a swimmer's than a surfer's haven, kiteboarding proved tough going. "The wind is bad, very weak, so it hasn't been going that well." But all was not lost. While she felt there was some way to go to conquer her fear of the ocean and learning to read its quirks and unforgiving nature, she'd gained a bit of confidence, too: "I really like it, I think I have fallen in love."

Nearby, Nelsonians Marcus Leong and Caryn Hee were hosting their niece Hee Xin Tong, 12, and nephew Hee Jin Wei, 9, who were on holiday from Malaysia for two weeks. It was the children's first visit to New Zealand and after paying a visit to Milford Sound, Queenstown and Nelson, the family hit up Tahunanui.

New Zealand had been the ultimate in experiences for the children: They loved getting up close and personal with farm animals, which they don't get to do back home, Hee said. And the calm Tahunanui Beach waters made the ideal spot to learn a few kayaking skills.

LUZ ZUNIGA The sunny final days of 2018 provided ample opportunity to get out onto the calm waters of Tahunanui Beach, Nelson.

Also giving a new water sport a go were brothers Simon and Mati Dziubek, aged 12 and 10 respectively. The Polish family moved to the Hawkes Bay a year ago and this week were holidaying in Nelson where Simon and Mati tried out paddle boarding.

It was easier than surfing, which the boys had tried on the west coast, Simon said. "I like paddle boarding better. I wouldn't say it's easy, but I like slower sports, not dangerous sports - like windsurfing."

"You're wrong," Mati said. "Surfing is better."

One thing the brothers do agree on: Water was an essential part of a Kiwi holiday.

"It's cool," Simon said. "I might try paddle boarding back home, too."

LUZ ZUNIGA Marcus Leong, Hee Jin Wei (9), Hee Xin Tong (12) and Caryn Hee tried kayaking for the first time at Tahunanui Beach. The two children, who live in Malaysia, are in New Zealand for the first time.

LUZ ZUNIGA Mati and Simon Dziubek tried surfing on the West Coast before taking up paddle boarding at Nelson's Tahunanui Beach.