Arawhata Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

We’ve got a solid run of surf on tap at Arawhata, a reef break that handles a good SW groundswell. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is pretty average for this time of year, nothing wild there.

The first call is Tuesday the 11th in the morning. The swell is a clean 4 ft from the WSW, with a 13-second period – that’s a nice groundswell, plenty of energy and the ESE wind is cross-off, keeping the faces smooth. Good chance of some fun ones, though the break can get a few heads in the water, so expect company.

Tuesday afternoon fades a bit with a cross-shore breeze, so morning is the pick.

Wednesday the 12th stays clean with small 3 ft to 2 ft WSW swell and light cross-off winds. Not big, but clean lines for a longer board.

Thursday the 13th morning pumps up a notch. Swell hits 4 ft from the WNW with a 10-second period and a solid offshore from the NNE at 15 mph. That’s clean, punchy reef waves. The energy is moderate but the quality is there. Afternoon gets bigger at 5 ft, but the cross-off breeze and strong combined energy still hold.

The standout is Friday the 14th morning. Swell is 4 ft from the WSW, but the period stretches to 16 seconds – that’s a proper, long-period groundswell. The combined energy is strong and the wind drops to almost nothing, ESE at 3 mph, cross-off. Arawhata is a reef, so this long-period swell will set up beautifully – smooth, lined-up waves for experienced surfers. This is the best session in the window.

Saturday the 15th gets bigger but messy. The morning has a 8 ft WSW swell (17-second period, very long), but the wind is cross-on and the energy is cranking. That’s too big for most, and the afternoon goes to 8 ft with a fresh cross-onshore – choppy and lumpy. Sunday the 16th is a write-off: 7 ft to 12 ft swell, but near-gale cross-shore winds (34 mph) – pure chaos, not for surfing.

We then hit a rough patch. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th are cross-shore and lumpy, with 5 ft to 6 ft swell, but the wind ruins it. Wednesday the 19th morning is a return to form: 5 ft groundswell from the WSW, 14-second period, light cross-off breeze – clean again. Afternoon gets an onshore breeze, so morning wins.

Thursday the 20th morning is another nice window: 5 ft WSW swell, 14-second period, barely any wind, cross-off. Clean lines on tap.

The last week of the forecast (from Friday the 21st onwards) settles into smaller, cleaner waves. Friday morning has 4 ft WSW groundswell with light cross-off winds. Saturday the 22nd is all clean cross-off wind all day, with 3 ft swell – small but glassy. Sunday the 23rd stays around 3 ft with a 15-second period and a light offshore in the morning.

We finish with a couple of dud days Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th – strong cross-shore winds and rain, no go. Wednesday the 26th drops right off to tiny 2 ft to 2 ft, onshore and lumpy – time to hang up the wettie.

So, the clear winner is Friday the 14th morning at Arawhata – that 16-second groundswell with glassy wind will be magic. For the smaller stuff, Saturday the 22nd will be a fun, uncrowded clean day on a longboard.

Rusty.

Read more