Arawhata Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got the goods on Arawhata for you. We’re looking at a pretty wild ride over the next couple of weeks, so buckle up.

First off, the water temp at Arawhata is sitting at about 58°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. Nothing to get the wetsuit linings in a twist about.

The forecast kicks off with a bit of a dud. Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are write-offs. The wind is howling, up to 25 mph, and the swell is all over the place with a short period. It’s just messy, poor surf. Don't bother.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Sunday the 26th of July. The morning session is the standout. We’ve got a solid 10ft swell from the WSW with a long, powerful 14-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 3612, so there’s plenty of grunt. But the real beauty is the wind: a light 6 mph ESE breeze coming cross-off. That’s going to be clean. The report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, and I’d back that. This is a big swell, over 8ft, so it’s strictly for the crew who know what they’re doing. The long period suits a reef break like this, so expect proper, powerful lines.

Into Monday the 27th, the morning holds up well. Still a solid 8ft WSW swell, 13-second period, and the wind is a magical 3 mph NE offshore. Glassy conditions, clean lines. Another cracker for the experienced crew. The afternoon sees the wind swing onshore, so get out early.

The swell starts to ease through Tuesday and Wednesday, but the quality remains. Tuesday the 28th afternoon actually gets a full-on glass-off with 0 mph wind. The swell is smaller at 4ft, but that’s a fun size, and the 11-second period keeps it tidy. The energy is low (449), so it’s a mellower session.

We then hit a dry spell. From Thursday the 30th through to the end of the first week of August, the conditions get messy. The wind is either too strong or onshore, or the swell is short and choppy. The combined energy figures are decent, but the quality is just not there. It’s a real battle for a clean wave.

The second week gets a bit wild. Monday the 3rd of August brings a very long 20-second period swell, but it’s hampered by cross-onshore winds and that long period at a reef break? It might be too lined up, making it tricky. The energy is high (2061), but the setup is marginal.

Then, from Tuesday the 4th of August, the wind machine turns on again. Heavy weather from the ESE brings huge swell, up to 18ft, but the wind is screaming at 31-34 mph. The combined energy is massive, over 6300, with the highest at 6374 on the 6th. But with that much cross-wind, it’s going to be a complete mess. This is more of a kite or tow-in setup than a paddle session. For the average surfer, it’s a no-go.

The tail end of the forecast, into the 8th of August, sees the swell drop and the wind shift onshore again. It’s a flat, blown-out finish.

So, to sum it up. The absolute best on offer is the Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th of July. Big, clean, powerful swell with perfect offshore/light winds. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The rest of the period is mostly a battle with the wind or the size. Keep an eye on the Tuesday 28th afternoon for a small, glassy session if you just need a paddle.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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