Bay of Plenty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ for the Bay of Plenty over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.

First up, the water temp is sitting around 73°, which is just about bang on for this time of year – nothing unusual there, so you can leave the full suit at home.

We’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands, I’m not gonna lie. The first few days are a write-off. Monday the 27th through Tuesday the 29th are just ugly – messy, lumpy waves with poor conditions and a wonky wind. You’d be fighting a losing battle out there. Wednesday the 29th morning and afternoon actually clean up a bit, with a clean face and a moderate breeze, but the waves are still just marginal. We’re looking at around 7ft of swell from the SSE, but the energy is moderate (768). It’s not the worst, but it’s not the best either.

The real heartbreak comes Thursday the 30th. The swell pushes up, but the wind goes howling cross-shore, making it a lumpy, choppy mess. Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August aren’t much better. There’s some size, but the wind and texture are just off.

Okay, now for the glimmer of hope. The standout for the whole period is without a doubt Sunday the 2nd of August. The morning is looking primo. We’ve got a solid 8ft swell rolling in from the ESE, and the light wind is just onshore, keeping it clean. The wave energy is strong (1264), and those waves are gonna have some punch. The wind is light, so the surface should be nice and smooth. This is the day to circle on the calendar. The afternoon gets a bit bumpier with the wind picking up, so get your session in early.

After that, Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th hold onto some decent size (8ft to 8ft) from the east, but the wind is a bit more cross, so it’s not as clean as Sunday. The energy is still strong (1210 and 2199), but the quality is only marginal. It’s surfable, but not a stand-out.

Then we hit a dry spell again. From Wednesday the 5th through to the 7th, it’s back to poor, weak junk. Friday the 8th of August morning is still marginal, but the afternoon is a real head-scratcher. The swell is predicted to hit 10ft from the S, which is just too damn big for a spot like this. The wind is light, but that’s a recipe for a washing machine, not a fun wave. Definitely for experts only, if anyone is game.

The following week, around the 9th and 10th, things get messy again with strong onshore winds and lumpy surf. The 11th of August has a trace of a long-period south swell, but it’s weak and the wind is wrong. It’s a real shame.

So, to wrap it up: there’s a long wait for the good stuff. If you’ve got the patience, Sunday the 2nd of August morning is your best shot – get out there early for clean, punchy waves. The rest of the period is mostly a struggle against the wind or the size. That’s the call from here.

Rusty.

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