Anawhata Road (Oaonui) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s look at what’s on the cards for Oaonui.

We’ve got one spot in the picture: Anawhata Road (Oaonui). It’s a reef break that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the SW. The whole 16-day window is a mixed bag, so let’s call it as it is.

The first real standout hits us on Sunday, 26 July. The morning session sees a solid 10 ft swell from the WSW with a long 14-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is a light easterly, cross-off, so it’ll be clean. The combined swell energy is pumping at 3827 – that’s strong stuff. This is serious wave energy, but it’s only for experienced surfers; at this size, it’s too much for beginners. The break handles it well for those who know what they’re doing. Crowds are ‘sometimes’, so you might have company, but it won’t be a circus.

Sunday afternoon drops to 8 ft but the wind swings SSE and goes cross, with a bit of chop showing up. Not the same quality.

Moving to Monday, 27 July morning – still solid at 7 ft, W swell, 13-second period. ESE wind at 10 km/h keeps it cross-off and clean. Energy is still strong at 1611. Again, this is expert territory, but if you’re up for it, the morning will be worth the paddle.

Tuesday, 28 July morning drops to 5 ft, clean with light east wind, but the energy has fallen to 465 – weak now. The swell’s fading.

Then we hit a real lull. From Tuesday afternoon through to Thursday, 30 July, the swell drops below 4 ft and the wind gets messy or too strong. Not worth the wetsuit. Expect a proper gap.

Friday, 31 July morning kicks back up – a 10 ft swell from the NW, but period is short at 9 seconds – that’s windswell, not great shape. The wind is moderate, but the energy is 2187, so it’s powerful but won’t hold up well at this reef. The afternoon gets bigger at 12 ft but with fresh cross-wind and a lumpy chop – only for the brave, and the short period makes it a bit of a washing machine.

Saturday, 1 August is a proper bright spot. The morning has 12 ft from the W at 13 seconds, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy, so not ideal. But the afternoon – absolute glass. E wind at 0 km/h, glassy conditions, swell drops to 8 ft but still a long 13-second period. Energy is 2221. This is the best of the second week. If you can get out there Saturday afternoon, it’s a dream for experienced surfers. Clean, powerful, but manageable. The kind of session you remember.

After that, the swell goes flat and messy. From Sunday, 2 August onwards, we’re looking at 2 ft to 3 ft most days, with fresh onshore winds and chop. A few mornings stay clean, but the energy is weak – under 700 generally. Thursday, 6 August has glassy conditions but only 3 ft and falling – it’s small but clean if you’re desperate.

From 7 August right through to the end of the forecast, we’re in a long flat spell. Tiny swell, weak energy, and mostly cross or onshore wind. Not worth getting too excited about.

Water temp anomaly’s not given, so I’ll just say the water’s about average for this time of year – don’t expect anything weird.

So, to sum it up: the standout is Sunday, 26 July morning for pure power and clean conditions, and Saturday, 1 August afternoon for glassy, solid waves. Both are for experienced surfers only. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too messy.

That’s the call.

Rusty.

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