Surf Forecasts:
Arawhata surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 15s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with 3,576 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Arawhata in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break it down: the 16-day window for Arawhata starts Wednesday August 19th, but it’s a rough start. Wednesday morning has a messy 8ft SSE swell with a short 8 second period and howling 25 mph cross-shore winds – total washout. The combined swell energy is strong at 2032, but wind makes it junk. Water temp is around 57°, about average for the year.
Wednesday afternoon drops to 4ft WSW swell with 16 mph cross-winds and questionable tide – still not worth it. Thursday morning: 6ft from the WSW, period 14 seconds, light 6 mph cross-on breeze, and energy at 1172 (moderate-strong). Slightly better but cross-on angle keeps it marginal. Thursday afternoon goes poor again with 12 mph winds and chop.
Friday 21st through Saturday 22nd: poor or marginal – small swells under 5ft, cross-shore or cross-on winds, energy dropping to as low as 290. A gap of a few days with no quality.
Sunday 23rd: 10ft WSW swell with a short 8 second period and 19 mph cross-on winds – 1333 energy but blown out. Monday 24th pumps up to 10ft WSW with a long 15 second period and 16 mph cross-onshore winds – energy massive at 5659, but wind ruins it. Tuesday 25th stays big (8ft, 14 seconds, 2879 energy) with cross-shore winds – expert-only and marginal.
Wednesday 26th to Friday 28th: cross-off winds from the NNW or NNE turn clean, but swells are all over. Thursday 27th morning offers 6ft WNW swell at 10 seconds, clean cross-off wind at 16 mph, and 1091 energy – a solid intermediate option.
Now the standout. Sunday August 30th morning: 5ft WSW swell with a very long 18 second period, combined energy 1770 (strong), and glassy cross-off winds from the ESE at just 3 mph. The forecast says excellent for experienced surfers. Classic groundswell with long period – reef break Arawhata should handle that fine. Water temp still around 57°, average. This is the best of the whole window.
Monday August 31st morning runs close: 5ft WSW, 14 seconds, clean cross-off light breeze, 1816 energy – another excellent slot. After that, Tuesday September 1st turns ugly with 25 mph cross-shore winds and a 10ft swell – kite-surfing weather. Wednesday to Thursday 3rd stays marginal.
First week’s mostly poor. Hit Sunday August 30th and Monday August 31st mornings. Beyond that, hope holds but it’s uncertain.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Sat night, light winds from the WNW by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | W 9 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 759 | 1568 | 1159 | 1068 | 711 | 711 | 756 | 347 | 253 | 151 | 710 | 1260 | 860 | 656 | 3576 | 3465 | 2831 | 2140 | 1905 | 1018 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:15AM2.65m | 2:45PM2.58m | 3:15AM2.47m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:15PM0.93m | 8:35AM0.90m | 9:09PM1.12m | 9:30AM1.08m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 4 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 6 | WSW 13 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 480 | 1568 | 1159 | 1068 | 711 | 711 | 756 | 347 | 253 | 45 | 710 | 224 | 114 | 612 | 3576 | 3465 | 2831 | 2140 | 1905 | 1018 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | SSE 5 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 19 | WSW 16 | WSW 18 | WSW 11 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 759 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 151 | 142 | 237 | 273 | 157 | 109 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 9 | — | — | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | — | — | WSW 19 | S 10 | — | WSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 15 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 5 | — | — | 36 | 2 | — | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 6 | W 6 | NW 5 | NW 7 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | W 9 | — | WSW 15 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | WSW 6 |
| kJ | 171 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 31 | 132 | 127 | 41 | 452 | 1260 | 860 | 656 | — | 2648 | 279 | 171 | 154 | 95 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 25 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 90 | 90 | 221 | 97 | 97 | 221 | 97 | 210 | 262 | 189 | 49 | 221 | 97 | 97 | 264 | 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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