Surf Forecasts:
Arawhata surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with 13,485 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s. 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 5.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 1.4m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 16ft (5.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 18ft (5.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Arawhata over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day window for Arawhata, and it’s a mixed bag – some real gems if you pick your moments, but plenty of time to kick back and watch the chaos too. This reef break (intermediate, fairly consistent, NE offshore) is set to see plenty of action, but the wind and weather are going to decide who gets the good ones.
Let’s start with the water: 58.5°F right now, just a touch warmer than average for this time of year – nothing unusual, just a normal winter feel.
The first few days are pretty average. Sunday the 19th afternoon has rain showers and a moderate onshore breeze, with 5.6ft WSW swell (16s period) and a combined energy of 1729. That’s okay energy, but the wind’s on it, so it’s marginal. Monday the 20th is cross-off in the morning with 4.9ft (14s, 972 energy) – still a bit messy, and the afternoon turns cross-shore and choppy. Not worth rushing.
Then Tuesday morning the 21st – that’s the real standout. Clear skies, glassy conditions with a light ESE breeze, 4.3ft WSW swell, 13s period, and combined energy of 531. That’s a moderate, clean groundswell – perfect for a reef like Arawhata. The period’s long enough to give proper shape, and the swell direction (WSW) is almost bang on the optimum SW. Glassy, clean, consistent – this is the session to aim for. Crowds are possible, but it’s a weekday morning, so you might get lucky.
Tuesday afternoon turns cross-on with a WNW breeze and drops off. Then Wednesday the 22nd is a write-off – strong onshore wind, 7.5ft but
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Wed night, near gales from the W by Fri night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WNW 8 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 14 | W 15 | WSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1415 | 1356 | 862 | 721 | 634 | 528 | 512 | 239 | 559 | 270 | 223 | 837 | 784 | 417 | 613 | 1027 | 1070 | 6468 | 11099 | 8807 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | on |
High Tide | 1:31AM3.08m | 1:56PM2.86m | 2:15AM2.87m | 2:43PM2.70m | 3:05AM2.68m | 3:37PM2.56m | 4:06AM2.53m | 4:49PM2.49m | 5:20AM2.47m | 6:10PM2.53m | 6:31AM2.50m | 7:10PM2.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:39AM1.07m | 00:26AM1.15m | 12:50PM1.02m | 1:26AM1.05m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — |
 | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 7 |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | NW 8 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | — | WSW 15 |
| kJ | 1415 | 1356 | 862 | 721 | 634 | 528 | 512 | 196 | 94 | 270 | 90 | 837 | 784 | 417 | 233 | 201 | 561 | 4254 | — | 8807 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 7 | SSE 6 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | N 4 | SSE 4 | NNW 10 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | N 7 | — | WSW 6 | — | — | W 18 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 280 | 60 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 28 | 50 | 68 | 223 | 1 | — | 53 | — | — | 156 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | NNW 11 | S 19 | S 19 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | WSW 19 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | S 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 34 | 12 | 7 | 30 | 11 | 11 | 35 | 10 | 9 | 57 | 85 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 5 | — | WSW 3 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | — | — | — | WNW 4 | NW 5 | WNW 8 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 14 | W 15 | — |
| kJ | — | 119 | 103 | 53 | 23 | — | 3 | 239 | 559 | — | — | — | 28 | 91 | 613 | 1027 | 1070 | 6468 | 11099 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 131 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 165 | 0 | 0 | 259 | 71 | 209 | 311 | 202 | 280 | 272 | 202 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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