Anawhata Road (Oaonui) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with y’all. For Anawhata Road (Oaonui), we’re lookin’ at a bit of a slow start. The first surf worth paddling out for doesn’t show until Wednesday morning, September 9th. The water’s sittin’ at 57°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing wild there.

The standout session, no question, is Friday morning, September 11th. We’ve got a solid 10 ft swell out of the WSW with a very long period of 19 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, right? The combined energy is huge at (6805), so there’s plenty of push. It’s a reef break, and that long period stuff loves a reef. The wind’s a light cross-on from the south, just a few ripples on the surface. This one is for the intermediate crew; it’s gonna be powerful. The break is fairly consistent, but with a swell this size, you might find some company if folks are brave enough.

Before that, Wednesday morning is a tease. Clean, offshore NE wind at only 3 mph, with a small 3 ft swell from the WSW. It’s a clean wave, but tiny. Wednesday afternoon cleans up with a NNW cross-off, but the swell is only 5 ft. Worth a look if you’re desperate.

Now, the bad news. After that Friday high, it turns ugly. From Friday afternoon all the way through to about Tuesday, September 22nd, it’s a long, bleak stretch of poor conditions. We’re talkin’ strong winds, lumpy seas, and rain. There’s heaps of swell – 12 ft, 15 ft – but the wind is just howling onshore or cross-onshore. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

The first light at the end of the tunnel is the morning of Tuesday, September 22nd. A clean 7 ft swell from the WSW with a 15-second period and an offshore ESE wind. The combined energy is moderate (1899). It’s a marginal call, but the conditions are clean.

Then we get another promising window. Wednesday morning, September 23rd, brings an 8 ft swell from the WSW with a very long 16-second period. It’s a cross wind, but light at just 6 mph, so it’s glassy enough to be fun. The energy is strong at (3113). For a reef, that’s a good combo. The crowds at Anawhata Road can pop up sometimes, so if you’re there for that Wednesday session, you might have to share.

So, to wrap it up: If you are an experienced surfer, don’t miss that Friday, September 11th morning session – it’s the one. The Wednesday the 23rd is your other solid bet, but it’s further out, so less certain. The rest of the time, it’s either flat, blown out, or both. Stay patient.

Rusty.

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