Arawhata Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at what the ocean’s got cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.

The first few days are pretty lackluster, to be honest. We’ve got some swell in the water, but the wind’s all over the shop, and the quality just isn’t there. It’s gonna be a bit of a grind to start. But don’t stress, because there are a couple of proper windows further out that look like they’ll be worth the wait.

The first real glimmer of hope shows up on the morning of Monday the 11th. It’s still small, around 4ft, but the wind swings around to a light cross-offshore from the ESE, and the ocean cleans right up. The energy is moderate (502), and that long period from the WSW at 13 seconds is a good sign. It won’t be huge, but it’ll be clean and fun. The afternoon is a bit softer with a light cross breeze, but the morning looks like the pick of that day.

Then we get another window on Wednesday the 13th. The swell pushes up a touch to 4ft to 4ft, and the wind is proper offshore from the NE. It’s a moderate breeze, but it’s clean, and the energy picks up to a strong 826. The period drops a bit to 10 seconds, but it should still offer up some decent, rippable waves. Thursday the 14th morning is the standout of this first week. The swell bumps up to 5ft from the W, the period stretches out to a solid 10 seconds, and we get light offshore winds. The energy is pumping at 1052. This is the one you want to circle. It’s going to be clean, powerful, and have some push to it. This is prime Arawhata reef.

Now, after that, the ocean’s gonna get angry. A big swell fills in, but it’s gonna be a mess. Friday afternoon through the weekend we see a big jump in size, hitting 12ft on Saturday the 15th, but the wind is onshore and howling. The energy readings are massive (3051 and 3890), but it’s going to be lumpy, choppy, and blown out. That’s not for the faint of heart, and honestly, it’s not for a paddleboard. If you’ve got a kite, that might be your window, because the surf is gonna be a washing machine. Sunday the 16th is similar, with a solid 8ft of WSW swell, but still crossed up and messy.

The ocean needs a few days to settle after that. Monday the 17th is a write-off with more strong onshores, and Tuesday the 18th starts off with a near gale from the SE. It’s all over the place.

But hold on, because there’s one more true standout on the horizon. The morning of Wednesday the 19th looks like a gem. The swell settles back to a solid 6ft from the WSW, the period stretches out to 15 seconds—that’s a proper groundswell—and we get light offshore winds from the ESE. The energy is strong at 1460. This is going to be excellent for experienced surfers. The reef at Arawhata will be handling that long-period energy perfectly, giving it shape and power. This is a morning for the quiver, not for the learner. The afternoon is still good, but a light cross-on breeze puts a few ripples on it.

The tail end of the window fades out. The 20th is poor with fresh cross-shore winds, and the 21st is mediocre. We get a little clean-up on the morning of Saturday the 22nd, with a small 4ft swell and cross-offshore winds, but the energy is weak. It’s a cruisy end to a varied fortnight.

So, to wrap it up: the first standout is the morning of Thursday the 14th, with that 5ft clean west swell. The second, and arguably the best for the crew who charge, is the morning of Wednesday the 19th, with a long-period 6ft groundswell and clean conditions. That one’s a bit further out, so don’t book it in stone yet, but it’s looking mighty promising.

This is Rusty, signing off. See you in the water.

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