Surf Forecasts:
Arawhata surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, W swell with 5,656 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Arawhata this week:
The surf forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Arawhata in the next 16 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the look ahead for Arawhata. We've got a 16-day window, and it's a bit of a rollercoaster, so let's get into it.
The first few days bring some solid, powerful swell, but it's really only for the experienced crew. The real standout, the one you'd circle on the calendar, is the Saturday afternoon glass-off on the 1st of August. That's the best of the bunch.
Sunday the 26th kicks us off with a serious 10ft swell from the WSW, packing a punch with an energy reading of 3827. The morning session has light cross-off winds from the east, making it clean. But that's a lot of water moving—it's expert territory. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-shore breeze.
Monday the 27th is still solid, with a 7ft W swell. The morning is clean with those light ESE cross-off winds, but as the day goes on, the wind picks up.
The swell starts to drop from Tuesday the 28th through Thursday the 1st, with waist-to-chest high waves. The wind is mostly cross-off, but it gets strong out of the north on the 30th and 31st. The 31st of July sees a new pulse of 10ft NW swell, but the wind is messy and the conditions are marginal.
Now, here's the real gem. Saturday the 1st of August. The morning is still a bit windy and choppy from the WNW, with an 12ft west swell (energy of 4243). But then the afternoon... absolute magic. The wind drops to nothing, glassy conditions, and the swell settles to a much more manageable 8ft from the west. The energy is still strong at 2221. Arawhata is a reef break, and with a 13-second period, that's quality groundswell. This is the session to be in the water for the intermediate and above crew. Fair warning, it's a spot that's known to get crowded, so expect company.
After that, the swell fades fast. Sunday the 2nd through to the end of the forecast is a long run of small, weak, and often windy conditions. The 4th of August has a bit of a pulse of 6ft from the WSW, but the wind is strong. The 6th of August has a tiny 3ft swell with glassy conditions, but it's not really worth the paddle.
So, to sum it up: the first week has some big, powerful surf for experts, but the absolute standout is the glassy afternoon session on the 1st of August. After that, we're looking at a long, quiet stretch. It's a pretty blank run for the area, but forecasts can shift.
Stay stoked, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat night, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat night, calm by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Tue night, strong winds from the N by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | NW 9 | WNW 12 | W 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 7758 | 3811 | 2530 | 1090 | 1606 | 1118 | 767 | 463 | 380 | 265 | 260 | 256 | 768 | 545 | 479 | 299 | 1426 | 3280 | 5656 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:29AM2.60m | 7:58PM2.78m | 8:17AM2.73m | 8:39PM2.93m | 8:59AM2.86m | 9:16PM3.06m | 9:37AM2.98m | 9:51PM3.18m | 10:12AM3.07m | 10:26PM3.27m | 10:46AM3.13m | 11:00PM3.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:26AM1.05m | 1:45PM0.92m | 2:12AM0.93m | 2:30PM0.79m | 2:52AM0.80m | 3:09PM0.66m | 3:28AM0.68m | 3:45PM0.55m | 4:04AM0.58m | 4:19PM0.46m | 4:39AM0.49m | 4:53PM0.41m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | |  | |  |  |  | | |
 | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 26 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Temp °C | 12 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 3 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | W 14 |
| kJ | 7758 | 3811 | 2530 | 1090 | 1606 | 1118 | 767 | 463 | 380 | 265 | 260 | 256 | 768 | 545 | 479 | 299 | 407 | 273 | 5656 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SSE 5 | S 7 | WNW 11 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | — | W 6 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 18 | — | — |
| kJ | 99 | 16 | 4 | 256 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 62 | 144 | — | 71 | 166 | 169 | 178 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 7 | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 9 | — | — | WSW 18 | — | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 11 | 2 | — | — | 62 | — | 125 | 176 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | N 3 | N 4 | NW 6 | N 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 12 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 36 | 97 | 60 | 237 | 1230 | 1426 | 3280 | 183 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 90 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 90 | 97 | 97 |
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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