
Surf Forecasts:
Arawhata surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 20s period, WSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 20s period, WSW swell with 16,612 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 2.2m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 1.5m and 7s is also forecast. 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 4.5m 20s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 20s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer at Arawhata over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, the first few days are pretty grim. We’ve got a solid 12ft to 13ft swell rolling in from Friday morning, but the wind is a mess – strong cross-off, cross-on, just ugly. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there. The wave energy is moderate to strong (2958 to 5602), but it’s blown out or lumpy, and the tide’s working against us. Saturday afternoon is a write-off. Sunday morning (6th September) with that NNW cross-off and 12ft swell from the WSW is the first glimpse of something half-decent, but it’s still marginal. That 16-second period is a lovely long groundswell, but at a reef break, it could be a bit too straight for the bank. Still, it’s the pick of the first week – clean enough for a paddle.
Then we hit a dry patch. Monday through Wednesday next week (7th to 9th September) are mostly poor, with onshore winds and small, weak swell. The energy drops right off (298 to 780), and the swell is under 7ft. Not worth suiting up.
The real standout is Friday 11th September. The swell jumps to a massive 18ft from the WSW, with a 19-second period – that’s a long, powerful groundswell. The combined energy is huge (21692), but the wind is a near gale from the SSE, cross-onshore, and it’s blown out. The break is too big for anyone but experts, and even then, it’s a mess. Unless you’re a hardcore charger, give it a miss.
After that, it’s a week of poor conditions. The swell stays big (12ft to 16ft) but the wind is relentless – cross-on, onshore, lumpy. Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th are a full write-off. Monday 14th has a brief moment in the afternoon with a clean cross-off, but the swell is still 8ft and the energy is moderate (2736). It’s a marginal call.
The best of the whole outlook lands on Saturday 19th September. The morning shows a 13ft swell from the WSW, a 19-second period (very long groundswell), and a clean cross-off wind from the NNW. The energy is high (11907), and the tide is favorable. This is a legit chance. The reef will handle that long period, and the offshore wind will keep it glassy. It’s big enough to be expert-only, but if you’re keen, it’s the one to circle on the calendar. Keep in mind it’s a week and a half away, so the forecast might shift, but right now, that’s the standout.
Overall, the first few days are a battle, then a long gap, and the second week is mostly poor until that Saturday morning. If you’re patient, the 19th could be worth it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun night, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Fri morning, light winds from the NW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | WNW 8 | W 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | W 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 11 | WNW 7 | W 9 | WSW 20 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1490 | 2610 | 2016 | 4824 | 4783 | 5100 | 5856 | 6181 | 3594 | 2686 | 1301 | 799 | 775 | 674 | 341 | 261 | 799 | 1537 | 471 | 1301 | 2549 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 2:24PM2.81m | 2:57AM2.72m | 3:45PM2.68m | 4:27AM2.63m | 5:23PM2.71m | 5:54AM2.68m | 6:39PM2.87m | 7:05AM2.82m | 7:38PM3.08m | 8:03AM3.00m | 8:28PM3.26m | 8:52AM3.17m | 9:13PM3.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:51PM0.94m | 9:17AM0.95m | 10:10PM1.05m | 10:45AM1.03m | 11:40PM1.00m | 12:15PM0.92m | 00:56AM0.81m | 1:23PM0.70m | 1:54AM0.56m | 2:17PM0.46m | 2:43AM0.34m | 3:03PM0.27m | |||||||||
6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | |
mm | 5 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 10 | 18 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 15 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 6 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | NW 9 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | W 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 10 |
1225 | 697 | 471 | 4824 | 4783 | 5100 | 5856 | 6181 | 3594 | 2686 | 651 | 406 | 775 | 674 | 341 | 261 | 799 | 184 | 286 | 402 | 2493 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WSW 7 | WNW 9 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 13 | WSW 20 |
— | — | 996 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1809 | 1301 | 799 | 281 | 275 | 108 | 86 | 149 | 126 | 202 | 45 | 2549 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | SSE 4 | — | W 26 | WSW 24 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | 18 | 81 | 37 | 2 | — | 13 | 110 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | W 10 | WSW 11 | NW 9 | NW 8 | — | — | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | — | WNW 9 | SSE 5 | — | WNW 8 | WSW 11 | WNW 7 | W 9 | W 10 |
1490 | 2610 | 2016 | 307 | 232 | — | — | 340 | 469 | 458 | 362 | 713 | — | 336 | 33 | — | 125 | 1537 | 471 | 1301 | 1972 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 266 | 275 | 295 | 262 | 262 | 210 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 22 | 0 | 109 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 210 | 262 | 93 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










