Bay of Plenty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what's cookin' for the Bay of Plenty.

Honestly, for the next couple of weeks, it's a bit of a mixed bag. We've got some solid energy rolling in, but the wind's gonna be a pain in the backside for most of it. There are a few windows where it all comes together, but you're gonna have to pick your moments.

Alright, let's start with what's on offer. The first real chance to get wet starts on Friday the 10th of July. There's a solid 7ft swell from the south, packing some serious grunt with a combined energy of 1886 – that's proper strong. But, that south wind is blowin' at 12 mph straight across the face, so it's gonna be choppy and wonky. Not ideal. Saturday the 11th looks a bit better with the swell droppin' to 5ft from the south-southwest, and a lighter 6 mph cross-shore breeze on the afternoon session. The energy is still moderate at 886, but it'll be a lot cleaner than Friday.

Sunday the 12th is a write-off with the rain and light cross-onshore wind. The surf gets messy again right into the next week, with a blustery north-easterly making things unpleasant.

Now, keep your eye on Thursday the 16th of July. That's the standout. The swell will be a clean 5ft from the east, period around 10 seconds, and the morning is forecast to be glassy with a 3 mph south-easterly. That's the kind of magic you wait for. The combined energy is a moderate 426, but with those glassy conditions, it'll be the best-looking surf of the whole run. Bay of Plenty is a beach/jetty setup, so that longer period (11+ seconds) groundswell can make it a bit straight, but with that light wind, it'll still have some nice lines.

After that, it gets windy again until we look towards the end of the second week. Wednesday the 22nd of July afternoon shows a 6ft swell from the south, period short at 8 seconds, so that's weak and choppy with a moderate cross-shore breeze.

Then, there's a real promise for the 23rd of July, Thursday morning. That's over a week away, so treat it as promising but not set in stone. If it comes off, we're looking at a solid 8ft swell from the south-southwest with a massive combined energy of 2134 – that's strong. The wind is forecast to be a light 3 mph from the north-northeast, making it cross-shore. That's a serious swell – over 8ft – so it's not for beginners. For the experts in the water, that big groundswell with a period of 13 seconds will be running fast and have plenty of push, but at a beach break, it could close out a bit. Still, if you're keen on a paddle and the wind holds, that could be a proper session.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet for most is the glassy Thursday morning on the 16th of July. For the crew willing to wait and take a risk on a big day, keep an eye on the 23rd of July.

Rusty.

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