Anawhata Road (Oaonui) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Anawhata Road (Oaonui), a reef setup that’s exposed and likes a good SW pulse.

We’re kicking off with a bit of a slow start. Monday the 13th has some small, clean waves around 4ft from the WSW, but the combined energy is only moderate (487) and the forecast is pretty ordinary – just marginal surf. Monday afternoon gets even worse with rain showers and a strong nor’ly breeze making a mess. That carries into Tuesday, where the swell picks up a touch to 6ft but with a short period of only 8 seconds, so the waves will be weak and choppy, not worth getting excited about.

Wednesday the 15th is where things start to get interesting. Wednesday morning we see a solid 10ft groundswell from the WSW with a ripping 16-second period – that’s proper long-period energy, and combined energy is a strong 4272. The wind is a light cross-off from the NNW, so it’ll be clean and powerful. This is a standout session for experienced surfers only though – that swell is too big for beginners, and with such a long period, the waves might jack up fast and close out on a beach, but on this reef, it’ll be a treat. If you’re intermediate level, be careful, but for pros, Wednesday morning is the pick of the whole outlook. The water temp is 59°F, pretty much average for this time of year.

Wednesday afternoon stays big but the wind swings more cross-shore, creating some chop, so morning is definitely the call. Thursday the 16th keeps the big 10ft swell, but the wind turns cross-onshore and chop builds, making it messy for paddle surfing – honestly, with that power and lump, it might be more a kite-surfing day. By Friday the 17th, an 12ft swell hits but it’s a short-period 9-second windswell with a 19 mph southwesterly straight onshore. That’s a write-off.

The weekend sees the swell drop slowly to the 7-7ft range but with persistent cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions, so not one for the quiver. Sunday the 19th morning brings a clean window with a 7ft WSW groundswell, 16-second period, and a light cross-off from the ESE – combined energy is strong (2826). That’s a good session for experienced surfers, clean and powerful, but still sizey. Crowds are possible here, so you might have company.

Into the new week, Monday the 20th has a smaller 6ft swell that stays clean in the morning, and Tuesday the 21st morning is a sleeper: 4ft from the WSW, 13-second period, light offshore ESE breeze, and combined energy moderate (611). The forecast calls for “expect very good surf conditions” – that’s a nice midday paddle for intermediates.

A gap hits mid-week – Wednesday the 22nd has tiny 2-3ft waves with poor conditions, so that’s a day off. But Thursday the 23rd bounces back with a clean morning: 4ft, 14-second period, cross-off breeze, and a moderate 769 energy reading – “expect very good surf conditions.” Friday the 24th is even nicer: Friday afternoon goes glassy with 3ft and flat calm wind – that’s a true clean, tiny-wave cruiser session for a longboard. Saturday the 25th morning sees a weird 2ft swell but a very long 21-second period – that’s super long, so it’ll be slow but clean on the reef. Saturday afternoon improves to 4ft from the WSW with 19-second period, cross-off breeze, and combined energy 981 – that’s a standout for the second week, with clean, well-shaped waves for intermediates.

Sunday the 26th has clean 6ft swell all day, Monday the 27th morning is offshore and clean with 5ft, and Tuesday the 28th morning is the best of the far-out calls: 5ft WSW groundswell, 15-second period, a moderate offshore from the NE, and combined energy at 1087 – the forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s a promising long-range target, but it’s deep in the forecast, so keep an eye on it.

Overall, Wednesday the 15th morning is the true standout – big, clean, and powerful. For the second week, Saturday afternoon the 25th and Tuesday morning the 28th are the highlights, but less certain.

Rusty.

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