Surf Forecasts:
Arawhata surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with 7,845 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Arawhata this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Arawhata in the next 16 days are 4.5m 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 7s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's talk about Arawhata. This is a reef break that really needs a clean SW swell and offshore NE winds. It's exposed to the swell but also to the wind.
The next couple of weeks look pretty frustrating. The water temp is right around 57°, which is normal for this time of year.
Right off the bat, this Sunday (August 23rd) shows a massive 15-foot SW swell with very strong energy (4590), but it's all for nothing. We've got a 35 km/h cross-onshore wind that will just tear it up into a choppy mess.
The pattern stays rough. We get a tiny chance on Thursday morning, August 27th, when the swell drops to about 5 feet from the WSW and the wind goes cross-offshore from the north, leaving the surf clean. But the energy is low (915), so it's just a marginal window.
Then it's a long run of frustration. Swells bounce between 8 and 13 feet through the first week of September, but every single day is blown out by cross-onshore cross-onshore winds. The conditions are just poor.
The real promise shows up on Monday, September 7th. The afternoon session is shaping up as the standout. We've got a huge 16-foot WSW swell hitting with a massive combined energy of 8463 – that’s serious power. The wind is forecast to be clean, cross-offshore from the north. The wave period is a very long 13 seconds, so these will be deep, powerful groundswell lines coming in. It's going to be big, definitely over 8 feet, so this is for experienced surfers only. The spot can be crowded, and a forecast like this will bring everyone out.
So, the bottom line: the first two weeks are mostly a write-off due to wind. Your one true target is Monday, September 7th afternoon. It's a long way off, but if that forecast holds, that’s the day for Arawhata.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 44mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Wed night, strong winds from the N by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WNW 10 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 9 | WSW 11 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4464 | 5873 | 7845 | 5644 | 4267 | 3243 | 2638 | 2378 | 2079 | 1796 | 1206 | 852 | 656 | 732 | 1759 | 2088 | 931 | 846 | 770 | 471 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 9:47AM3.10m | 9:59PM3.30m | 10:21AM3.20m | 10:33PM3.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:58AM1.12m | 1:18PM0.99m | 1:48AM0.95m | 2:06PM0.81m | 2:28AM0.76m | 2:45PM0.62m | 3:04AM0.58m | 3:20PM0.45m | 3:39AM0.42m | 3:54PM0.32m | 4:13AM0.29m | 4:27PM0.24m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | | | |  |  |  | | | |  |  |  |  | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 29 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 18 | — | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | NW 9 | NW 8 | WSW 21 | WSW 19 |
| kJ | 126 | — | 7845 | 5644 | 4267 | 3243 | 1076 | 2378 | 2079 | 1796 | 1206 | 852 | 656 | 193 | 321 | 282 | 931 | 250 | 253 | 424 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 14 | — | — | WSW 17 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | W 24 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | S 11 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 612 | — | — | 57 | 113 | 102 | 84 | 11 | 269 | 116 | 2 | 57 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | S 18 | S 18 | S 13 | W 24 | WSW 11 | WSW 22 | — | S 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 39 | 91 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 15 | — | — | W 7 | WSW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | NNW 4 | WNW 10 | NW 9 | NW 10 | — | WSW 11 | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | 4464 | 5873 | 7105 | — | — | 324 | 2638 | 435 | 240 | — | — | — | 15 | 732 | 1759 | 2088 | — | 846 | 770 | 471 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 275 | 274 | 210 | 221 | 221 | 264 | 272 | 229 | 97 | 221 | 97 | 71 | 93 | 97 | 259 | 97 | 97 | 195 | 203 | 221 |
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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