Arawhata Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what Arawhata is offering up in feet and degrees.

Honestly, the next week and a half is a bit of a battle. We’ve got plenty of swell, but the wind is going to be a monkey on our backs for most of it. The good news is, there’s a proper standout on Friday the 11th if you’re willing to be patient and you’ve got the skills.

The water temp is sitting about 57°F, which is pretty much average for this time of year, nothing wild there.

We start off with a bit of a wait. The first real chance to get wet is Monday morning, September 7. There’s a solid 7ft swell from the WSW, with a very long period of 15 seconds, packing a lot of energy (3331). That’s a proper groundswell. The problem is it’s coming with a 25 km/h ESE wind, so it’s cross-off, but with that speed it’s going to be a bit bumpy. It’s a reef break, so it handles the direction, but it’s not going to be that clean. This one is a marginal call.

The rest of the week is a write-off. The swell gets bigger, but the wind gets worse. Tuesday morning has a clean little 4ft from the WSW with light breeze, but the energy is weak (788) and it’s a cross-off, so it’s a maybe. By Wednesday and Thursday, the wind is onshore or howling, and the scores drop to zero. It’s just messy out there.

Alright, here’s the one to circle. Friday morning, September 11. The swell is pumping hard at 10ft from the WSW, with a massive 19-second period. That’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is enormous (6104). Now, the wind is light and onshore, but only 10 km/h. That is light enough to be glassy, and for a reef break like Arawhata, a light onshore is often workable. This is the standout. It’s a big, powerful wave, so it’s only for experienced surfers; 10ft is expert territory. Don’t even think about it if you’re a beginner. The period is so long it’s going to wall up nicely on the reef, but be ready for big lulls between sets.

The afternoon of the 11th and all of Saturday the 12th get smashed by heavy onshore winds, blowing over 40 km/h. The swell is still there, but it’s a washing machine. Sunday the 13th is also a mess.

The second week from September 14 onwards is a steady stream of moderate to strong onshore and cross-onshore winds. The swell is often present, often 8ft to 13ft, but the wind just ruins it. There are a few marginal mornings (like the 15th, 21st, and 22nd) where the wind is a bit more manageable, but the quality is poor. For a fairly consistent reef break, this is a long blank run of bad conditions. It’s not looking good for a good wave until the wind pattern changes.

Bottom line: The only real standout is Friday morning, September 11. It’s a big, powerful swell with a chance of clean conditions. Everything else is a struggle. If you’re a kiter, the whole second week has plenty of wind and swell, but for a paddle surfer, it’s grim.

Rusty.

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