Anawhata Road (Oaonui) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checkin' in with a look at what's comin' down the pipe at Anawhata Road (Oaonui). It's a right-hand reef set-up, intermediate friendly, and pretty consistent when it gets the right angle. Don't be fooled by the opening, though; the water's sitting at a very average 57° for this time of year, so nothin' unusual to report there.

We've got a serious gap to start, so don't even bother paddling out just yet. The first real chance to wet a line doesn't show up until the morning of Thursday the 11th of September. And wow, what a moment that is. We're lookin' at a clean 10ft swell from the WSW with an 18-second period—that's proper groundswell energy, packing a punch (combined energy of 6320). The wind is light and *onshore* from the SW at 6 mph, which is a bit of a bummer for perfect shape, but it's manageable. This is the standout, the one you circle on the calendar. That long period means it'll be wrapping around the reef nicely, with some serious push behind it. Just a heads up, though: at 10ft this is edging into expert territory for the average punter.

That morning window on the 11th is the jewel in the crown. The whole session gets blown out by a strong WSW breeze by the afternoon, and from there, it's a rough ride. The following days—the 12th, 13th, 14th—are all a hard pass. We're talking onshore gales, lumpy mess, and poor surf conditions all the way. The swell pumps through the weekend with a 16ft on the Saturday morning, but with 28 mph winds rippin' straight onshore, that's just a washing machine. Better suited to the kite-foilers than a regular paddle surfer.

The energy keeps comin' but the wind stays nasty through the 17th, 18th, and into the 20th, with huge swells and strong to near-gale winds. That's a lot of water moving but zero quality. The 20th afternoon shows a slight drop in wind with a 10ft NW groundswell and a score up to a 2, but it's still marginal at best.

We finally get a break in the wind heading into the end of the forecast. On the 24th of September—that's a Thursday morning—things look clean. The wind goes light cross-offshore from the NNW, scrubbing those faces smooth. The swell is small, just 3ft at 13 seconds from the WSW, so it won't be big, but it'll be shapely. A couple of friends and a longboard will be the kit for that session.

So to sum it up: don't hold your breath for this week. The one and only true standout is that Thursday morning, the 11th of September. Get on it early before the wind ruins the party. After that, you're waiting at least another week for a tiny, clean window on the 24th.

Rusty.

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