Arawhata Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Arawhata.

Mate, this is a bit of a mixed bag over the next two and a half weeks. The first few days are a write-off, so don’t even bother. Then we get a slow build through the week, but the real standout action is in the second week, with a couple of absolute crackers that are worth planning around. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The first real chance to paddle out comes Tuesday, August 4th. The afternoon looks the best of the day, with a clean, cross-off breeze and a 7ft WSW swell. It’s a bit messy in the morning, so wait for that afternoon session. The swell energy is moderate (2509), but it’s not a world-beater.

Wednesday the 5th drops off a bit, with the swell fading to 5ft and then 4ft, and a cross-shore wind messing things up. The period lengthens to 13 seconds, which is a proper groundswell, but the wind and chop mean it’s only marginal.

Now, Thursday the 6th is a special one. The morning is absolute glass with zero wind, and a clean 3ft WSW swell. That’s a tiny wave, but for a reef break, glassy conditions are gold. The energy is low (239), but for a clean, small wave session on a long period 12-second swell, that’s a lovely little window for the intermediate crew.

The real big boy comes in on Saturday, August 8th. The morning session is a standout. We’re looking at an 8ft NW swell, and the wind is a clean cross-off. The energy is strong (1074), but the period is only 8 seconds, so it’s a short-period wind swell. It’s going to be punchy and powerful, and with that size, it’s strictly for experienced surfers. The afternoon is similar but a bit more marginal on the tide. Definitely the best on offer for the first week.

After that, Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th are both clean and have some nice, long-period groundswell (14-15 seconds) around 3ft to 4ft. The Monday morning session is a genuine highlight for the experienced crew, with a 4ft, 13-second swell and clean conditions. The energy is moderate (1064). It’s not huge, but it’s quality.

There’s a little lull mid-week, but then Thursday, August 13th, has a fantastic afternoon session. It goes glassy, with a 4ft, 18-second swell. That’s a very long period groundswell, and the energy is solid (1554). For a reef break like Arawhata, a long period swell like this can be superb, giving long, clean lines. This is a top pick for the second week.

The run continues into Friday the 14th with clean, cross-off winds and a 5ft, 15-second swell, and then Saturday the 15th is also clean with a 4ft, 12-second swell. Good consistency.

The final big event is on Tuesday, August 18th, which is 15 days out. The morning shows a big 12ft WNW swell, with light, clean cross-off wind. The energy is massive (4442), and the period is 11 seconds. This is a serious, expert-only swell. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but if it comes together, it’ll be the biggest and most powerful day of the whole forecast.

The rest of the time, especially the first few days, the wind is just too strong or onshore, making it messy. There’s a solid 3-day gap with no surf worth mentioning from the 3rd to the 5th. The second week is where the quality is at. The crowds are ‘sometimes’ here, so you might have a few others out, but on the standout days, it’s worth it.

Rusty.

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