Surf Forecasts:
Arawhata surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 16s period, WSW swell with 2,386 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s 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 19) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. 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 2.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk about Arawhata in feet and miles per hour, because that’s how we do it sometimes.
The water temp is 58°F, pretty much dead average for this time of year. Nothing to get excited about.
First off, the opening weekend is a total bust. From Friday 17 July through Sunday 19 July, we’ve got a strong cross-onshore wind making a mess of a 7ft to 6ft SW swell. The wave energy is huge (over 2000), but it’s all blown to bits. Don’t bother.
There’s a gap, but the first real chance comes on Monday 20 July morning. The wind shifts to a light ESE cross-off, and the swell drops to 5ft from the WSW, with a long 14-second period. It’s clean enough for experienced surfers. The energy is moderate (1016). This is your best bet of the whole 16 days.
Tuesday 21 July morning is a glassy morning. Dead calm wind, 4ft WSW swell at 13 seconds. The energy is weak (558), but it’ll be clean and small. Perfect for a longboard.
From Wednesday 22 July through Thursday 24 July, it’s back to cross-onshore slop. Energy is in the 400-800 range (weak to moderate). Nothing to see.
Then Saturday 25 July hits. A 50 mph near gale whips up, and the swell jumps to 10ft from the WSW, with a 16-second period and a massive energy of 7250 (very strong). That’s a huge, powerful groundswell. But the wind is a full-on onshore mess. For the reef at Arawhata, it’s a tough, expert-only day, or a kite-surfing show.
Sunday 26 July stays windy and onshore with a 7ft swell.
The last week runs from Monday 27 July to the end of the month. The swell sits between 5ft and 6ft, but the winds are usually cross-onshore or strong cross-off. The energy is moderate (400-1300). The mornings of Tuesday 29 July and Wednesday 30 July have clean cross-off winds, but the swell is only 4ft to 4ft, with weak energy. Small and marginal.
So, the real standout is Monday 20 July morning for a clean, punchy session. The glassy Tuesday 21 July morning is a second option for smaller, clean waves. Keep an eye on that 10ft swell on the 25th, but unless you’re an expert who loves a fight, it’s a pass.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri night, min 11°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1626 | 1428 | 1208 | 961 | 1955 | 1321 | 1415 | 1568 | 969 | 802 | 634 | 520 | 512 | 320 | 286 | 262 | 206 | 739 | 640 | 473 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 00:05AM3.46m | 12:28PM3.18m | 00:48AM3.29m | 1:12PM3.03m | 1:31AM3.08m | 1:56PM2.86m | 2:15AM2.87m | 2:43PM2.70m | 3:05AM2.68m | 3:37PM2.56m | 4:06AM2.53m | 4:49PM2.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:53PM0.24m | 6:23AM0.30m | 6:37PM0.38m | 7:09AM0.43m | 7:23PM0.55m | 7:52AM0.58m | 8:09PM0.75m | 8:37AM0.74m | 8:58PM0.93m | 9:25AM0.89m | 9:56PM1.08m | 10:23AM1.02m | 11:07PM1.17m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — |
 | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 8 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | 1626 | 1428 | 1208 | 961 | 1955 | 1321 | 393 | 1568 | 969 | 802 | 634 | 520 | 512 | 320 | 123 | 68 | 206 | 739 | 640 | 473 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 18 | S 23 | S 21 | WSW 16 | NNW 11 | SSE 6 | S 20 | S 19 | SSE 4 | SSE 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | S 10 | S 10 | SE 13 | S 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 286 | 40 | 9 | 1415 | 11 | 43 | 30 | 28 | 3 | 30 | 28 | 50 | 57 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 23 | — | — | S 21 | S 19 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | WSW 19 | WSW 19 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | N 7 | SSE 10 | S 13 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | 34 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 35 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | SSE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | — | — | WSW 5 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 |
| kJ | 751 | 1064 | 973 | 857 | 722 | 866 | — | 14 | 74 | 43 | 29 | — | — | 27 | 286 | 262 | 96 | 29 | 144 | 136 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 221 | 229 | 221 | 221 | 221 | 131 | 97 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 97 | 97 | 190 | 60 | 3 | 43 | 221 | 71 |
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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