Arawhata Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Arawhata. This is a reef break, exposed to the SW swell, and it’s fairly consistent, which is a good start. The water temperature is sitting at about 59°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The next few days are a bit of a write-off, to be honest. Friday afternoon is a mess – cross-shore wind at 22 mph with a lumpy cross-chop, and the wave energy is there (1513) but it’s all over the shop. Saturday’s not much better, with moderate cross-shore and a cross-chop making things choppy. You’d be paddling your heart out for not much reward.

Sunday morning, July 12th, is where it starts to get interesting. The wind swings to a light cross-off breeze from the E at 6 mph, cleaning things right up. We’re looking at a 5ft swell from the WSW with a 16-second period – that’s a nice, long-period groundswell pumping some good energy (1112) into the reef. It’s a bit solid for beginners at that size, but for the experienced crew, it’s going to be excellent. The reef setup should handle that long period well. Sunday afternoon stays clean with a 5ft swell and a light cross-off from the NNW.

The middle of the week gets a bit average again, with building winds and lumpier conditions, though Monday morning the 13th hangs in there with a clean 3ft swell from the WSW. Then Tuesday the 14th has a morning pulse of 7ft from the NW, but with a short, bumpy 8-second period – not ideal.

Now, hold on to your board, because Wednesday July 15th is a standout. The afternoon brings a solid 12ft swell from the W with a 16-second period and massive energy (6352). This is serious, heavy groundswell – only for experts, and even then, you’ll want your A-game. The wind is moderate cross-off from the NNW, keeping it clean on the face. For the confident surfer, this is one of the best swells on offer, being consistent, big, and clean.

After that, the winds turn nasty on Thursday the 16th, blowing cross-onshore and chopping up a 10ft swell. Not for paddling. Friday July 17th though, morning session is a gem – glassy conditions, a 8ft WSW swell with a 14-second period, and energy at 2006. That’s excellent for experienced surfers again. Saturday the 18th gets blown out by strong winds, and Sunday the 19th is a write-off with near gale-force winds.

There’s a gap of a few average days, but July 21st, a Tuesday, looks magic – morning with a light cross-off on a 5ft swell, and then the afternoon goes dead glassy with a 5ft swell from the WSW (1032 energy). That’s the kind of session you dream about. July 24th, a Friday afternoon, has an 8ft NW swell with offshore wind and clean conditions – another one for the experienced surfers, promising but a bit further out.

The best of the best? I’d be circling Wednesday July 15th afternoon for the big, clean, expert-only groundswell, and Tuesday July 21st afternoon for that rare, glassy perfection on a solid 5ft swell. The reef will be handling it all beautifully.

Rusty.

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