Surf Forecasts:
Hawai River surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, NNW swell with 406 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with NW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Hawai River this week:
The surf forecast for Hawai River over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Hawai River in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hawai River over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let's talk about what's on offer at Hawai River.
Alright, to be straight with you, the start of this period is pretty flat. From now through the end of September, there's just not much happening. The first couple of weeks are a write-off for any decent waves. We're looking at tiny, short-period swell and mostly onshore or cross-shore wind, with nothing over 3 ft and combined energy barely cracking 40 (44 max on the 17th). Not worth paddling out for.
The first real window of opportunity doesn't open up until Monday the 22nd of September. We've got a pulse of swell coming in, with a solid 7 ft from the NW on the morning of the 22nd, period around 8 seconds, and combined energy hitting a strong 507. The wind is set to be cross-offshore from the SW, which is a good look – it should be clean. But the afternoon sees the wind shift to onshore from the NNW, so the morning is definitely the time to be out. This swell is a proper size, over 5 ft, so it's more for the experienced crew; beginners will be out of their depth.
The next standout is on Sunday the 27th of September. The morning is looking prime: 5 ft from the NNW, period a nice 8 seconds, with glassy conditions and a combined energy of 271. That's a solid groundswell with good energy, and glassy wind is the dream for clean faces. The water temp is 58°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
After that, the Monday the 28th morning also has 5 ft from the NNW, but the wind is cross-shore, so not as clean as the Sunday glass-off. The 29th Tuesday morning is similar, with 5 ft but cross-on wind, which will chop it up a bit.
So, overall, it's a slow start, but there are two clear standouts: the morning of Monday the 22nd of September for size and clean cross-off wind, and the Sunday the 27th of September morning for the glassy conditions and solid groundswell. If you're after the best chance of a clean wave, target that Sunday 27th.
Keep in mind, this is a point break that's inconsistent and only works on a specific swell direction. When it's on, it can be good, but you need to pick your moment. The crowd factor is 'sometimes', so you might have company on the standouts, but it shouldn't be a circus.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 4 | N 13 | N 13 | NNE 11 | NNE 11 | N 12 | NNE 11 | NNE 11 | WNW 5 | NW 4 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 8 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 28 | 28 | 127 | 372 | 346 | 301 | 120 | 50 | 46 | 123 | 56 | 41 | 53 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:57PM1.82m | 9:24AM1.78m | 9:40PM1.76m | 10:08AM1.73m | 10:23PM1.68m | 10:52AM1.67m | 11:07PM1.60m | 11:38AM1.61m | 11:52PM1.53m | 12:26PM1.54m | 00:41AM1.46m | 1:18PM1.50m | 1:34AM1.42m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:51PM0.15m | 3:14AM0.10m | 3:35PM0.21m | 3:57AM0.16m | 4:19PM0.27m | 4:39AM0.22m | 5:04PM0.35m | 5:22AM0.30m | 5:49PM0.42m | 6:08AM0.37m | 6:37PM0.49m | 6:57AM0.42m | 7:29PM0.53m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | |  | | |  | |  | | |  | | |  | | |  | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 10 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 11 | NNE 11 | N 12 | NNE 11 | NNE 11 | NE 11 | NNE 12 | NE 11 | NNW 8 | — | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NW 6 | N 8 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 5 | 372 | — | 301 | 120 | 50 | 7 | 7 | 56 | 1 | 53 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 14 | N 13 | N 13 | — | — | NNE 11 | N 12 | N 12 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | — | — | — | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | — | — | N 8 | N 11 | N 8 |
| kJ | 4 | 14 | 14 | — | — | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 13 | 6 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 12 | NNE 12 | N 13 | N 12 | N 3 | — | NE 12 | NE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | N 11 | — | N 11 |
| kJ | — | 6 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | NW 4 | NNW 6 | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 6 | — |
| kJ | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 28 | 28 | 127 | — | 346 | — | — | — | 46 | 123 | — | 41 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 76 | 40 | 76 | 77 | 93 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 85 | 89 | 93 | 76 | 76 | 0 | 48 | 77 | 73 | 73 | 82 | 48 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Cape | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Hawai River Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Hawai River provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Hawai River can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Hawai River 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 (Hawai River) 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 Hawai River 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.
Hawai River is 48 km (30 miles) from Whakatane. If you plan a holiday in East Cape, look for hotels and other accommodation in Whakatane. Whakatane has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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