Surf Forecasts:
Arawhata surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with 8,789 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Arawhata this week:
The surf forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 4.0m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Arawhata in the next 16 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s heading our way for Arawhata. This reef set-up is our main focus, and it’s a bit of a wild ride over the next couple of weeks.
The first week is a write-off, to be honest. We’ve got a run of poor surf conditions from Friday the 21st right through the end of the month. The wind is all over the place, mainly cross-on or cross, and it’s choppy and messy. There’s a big pulse of swell on Sunday the 23rd with a 15 ft swell, but with a 25 mph cross-on wind, it’s just a washing machine. The swell energy is strong (3561), but it’s not for paddling.
Then things get interesting. Monday the 24th of August, we’ve got a serious groundswell hitting. The forecast shows a 15 ft swell from the WSW with a very long period of 15 seconds, and the combined energy is massive (15719). The wind is clean and offshore from the WSW in the morning. This is the standout of the entire outlook. The only catch? It’s predicted to be too big for this break. This is only for the experts. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about average for this time of year.
After that, the surf drops but stays messy with cross-onshore winds through the rest of August and into early September. The wind is strong, and the conditions are lumpy or choppy. We get a few windows of cleaner cross-offshore winds on the 27th and 28th, but the swell is small and inconsistent.
The real second standout is the first weekend of September. Look at Saturday the 5th of September. The wind goes glassy in the morning with a slight air from the north, and we’ve got a solid 7 ft groundswell from the WSW with a very long period of 16 seconds. The energy is still strong (3761). The forecast says excellent surf conditions, but it’s for experienced surfers. This is a promising one, but it’s over a week away, so keep an eye on it.
The rest of the second week is a mix of bumpy, cross-shore wind and big, messy swells that are too big or too windy for a good paddle. The setup at Arawhata is a reef, so those long-period swells will wrap in nicely, but you’ll need the wind to play ball.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the WNW on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the NNW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Mon afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | NW 7 | WNW 9 | W 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 530 | 347 | 253 | 198 | 567 | 3327 | 3774 | 6303 | 8418 | 6040 | 4555 | 3385 | 1504 | 2311 | 2976 | 2756 | 1556 | 1255 | 640 | 996 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:54PM2.46m | 4:34AM2.38m | 5:25PM2.44m | 5:55AM2.39m | 6:37PM2.54m | 7:00AM2.50m | 7:29PM2.69m | 7:52AM2.65m | 8:12PM2.86m | 8:35AM2.81m | 8:50PM3.03m | 9:12AM2.97m | 9:26PM3.18m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:18PM1.24m | 10:48AM1.18m | 11:46PM1.24m | 12:15PM1.14m | 00:58AM1.12m | 1:18PM0.99m | 1:48AM0.95m | 2:06PM0.81m | 2:28AM0.76m | 2:45PM0.62m | 3:04AM0.58m | 3:20PM0.45m | ||||||||
 |  | |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 6 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 18 | — | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | 530 | 347 | 99 | 198 | 317 | 234 | 180 | — | 8418 | 6040 | 4555 | 1413 | 1504 | 595 | 2976 | 2756 | 1556 | 1255 | 640 | 996 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 12 | WSW 14 | S 11 | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 9 | S 17 | — | S 17 | WSW 16 | S 18 | WSW 16 |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | 253 | 2 | 120 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | 6 | 52 | 6 | 147 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 9 | S 18 | S 17 |
| kJ | 5 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 24 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | WSW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 7 | WNW 9 | W 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | — | WSW 15 | WSW 8 | WSW 14 | WSW 8 | W 7 | — | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 |
| kJ | 57 | 151 | 37 | 135 | 567 | 3327 | 3774 | 6303 | 7301 | 5384 | — | 3385 | 461 | 2311 | 623 | 423 | — | 176 | 200 | 243 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 221 | 97 | 97 | 209 | 97 | 208 | 275 | 311 | 195 | 221 | 60 | 230 | 229 | 264 | 60 | 221 | 71 | 71 | 90 | 97 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Arawhata Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Arawhata provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Arawhata can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Arawhata surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Arawhata) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Arawhata may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Taranaki? If you are looking for accommodation near Arawhata, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Taranaki, consider staying in New Plymouth which is 49 km (30 miles) away.
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