Surf Forecasts:
Arawhata surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 17s period, WSW swell with 11,983 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about the waves.
We only have one spot to look at, Arawhata. It's a reef break, wide open to SW swells. Water temp is about 58°F, pretty standard for this time of year. The forecast starts off with a real bum note, a few days of nothing good.
Thursday the 10th is a no-go. A weak 4ft swell from the WSW with a short 11-second period, and a strong cross-shore wind has it all chopped up. Wave energy is just moderate (793). It's a mess.
Friday the 11th is the one and only true standout. Friday morning is the call. We have a solid 10ft swell from the WSW, but the period is a huge 18 seconds – that's serious groundswell energy (6339). The wind is a light offshore from the SW, so the waves will be clean and lined up. This is for the experienced crew only; that size and long period at a reef will be pumping. It's a magic window. The afternoon gets hammered by a strong cross-onshore wind, so get out early.
From Saturday the 12th all the way through to Saturday the 19th, it's a real dry spell. There's plenty of swell in the water – the energy numbers are huge, often in the thousands (8744, 4725) – but it's constantly wrecked by strong onshore winds. It's lumpy, choppy, and blown out. Honestly, you'd have a better time on a kiteboard than a surfboard during this stretch.
Finally, we get two small windows of hope at the very end. On Wednesday the 23rd, the swell drops to a clean 4ft from the SW with a 14-second period. The wind goes glassy, absolutely dead calm. Energy is low (793), but it'll be slick and perfect for a longboard.
Then again on Friday the 25th, another glassy morning, this time with a 4ft WSW swell and a 14-second period. Clean and friendly.
So here's the bottom line: Friday morning, September 11th, at Arawhata is the only day worth rushing for. Everything before that is a mess, and the second week just has a couple of small, glassy sessions at the end.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Fri morning, strong winds from the SW by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 15 | WSW 18 | WSW 18 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 7 | W 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 305 | 451 | 1117 | 6258 | 8388 | 4147 | 5041 | 3062 | 8875 | 2372 | 1904 | 4014 | 2613 | 2119 | 2253 | 774 | 630 | 342 | 1567 | 1780 | 5367 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | on | on | on |
High Tide | 9:13PM3.39m | 9:36AM3.28m | 9:54PM3.44m | 10:15AM3.33m | 10:32PM3.42m | 10:52AM3.31m | 11:08PM3.33m | 11:27AM3.24m | 11:42PM3.19m | 12:01PM3.12m | 00:16AM3.01m | 12:36PM2.97m | 00:52AM2.82m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:03PM0.27m | 3:26AM0.19m | 3:45PM0.15m | 4:07AM0.11m | 4:24PM0.14m | 4:46AM0.12m | 5:02PM0.20m | 5:23AM0.19m | 5:38PM0.34m | 5:59AM0.33m | 6:15PM0.52m | 6:35AM0.50m | 6:54PM0.73m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | |  | |  | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — |
mm | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 18 | — | — | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SSE 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 9 | SW 18 | — |
| kJ | 305 | 451 | 624 | 6258 | — | — | 1278 | 3062 | 26 | 2372 | 1904 | 4014 | 2613 | 2119 | 2253 | 774 | 630 | 323 | 1567 | 13 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | S 6 | — | — | — | WSW 16 | — | — | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 264 | 407 | 1117 | 81 | — | — | — | 3054 | — | — | 1292 | 1341 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 24 | WSW 22 | WSW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 54 | 263 | 865 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | SSE 8 | — | WSW 18 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | — | — | WSW 15 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 6 | W 7 | — | WSW 10 | WSW 15 |
| kJ | 170 | 144 | 784 | — | 8388 | 4147 | 5041 | 2628 | 8875 | 1684 | 1514 | — | — | 1737 | 371 | 285 | 144 | 342 | — | 1780 | 5367 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 97 | 97 | 30 | 30 | 221 | 162 | 109 | 203 | 221 | 190 | 162 | 50 | 60 | 229 | 221 | 221 | 210 | 97 | 195 | 257 | 190 |
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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