
Surf Forecasts:
Kaituna Cut surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, NNE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, N swell with 181 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period with NNE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kaituna Cut this week:
The surf forecast for Kaituna Cut over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kaituna Cut in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kaituna Cut over the next 16 days.
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.
Alright, straight up – it’s gonna be a lean few weeks here, with a real dry spell to kick things off. We’ve got a gap of nearly a week before anything even remotely worth paddling out for shows up.
The only break we’re tracking is Kaituna Cut. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, fairly consistent but exposed, and it likes swell from the NNE. Crowds can pop up here sometimes, so keep that in mind.
From Thursday July 9 through to Monday July 13, it’s pretty much a write-off. Tiny little waves, mostly under 2ft, with periods barely scraping 10 seconds, combined wave energy sitting in the weak range (just 3 to 67). Winds are mostly cross-off or glassy at times, which is usually a good sign, but there’s just nothing to work with. Sunday afternoon the 12th goes glassy with 0.7ft – calm as a lake, but no surf.
Tuesday July 14 mornings finally sees a pulse. Swell pushes up to 5ft from the north, with a period of 7 seconds, and combined energy jumps to a moderate 178. Winds are light and cross-off from the west, making it clean. It’s still ordinary conditions, but it’s the first surfable window. Afternoon drops a touch to 4ft, still clean. Not a standout, but something to wet the whistle.
Wednesday July 15 mornings goes glassy again, but the swell has dropped back to 2ft with a short 6-second period and weak energy (42). Not much to get excited about.
Then we hit the big one. Saturday July 18 morning – this is the standout, no question. We’re looking at a solid 13ft swell from the NNE, period of 10 seconds, and combined energy rips right up to a very strong 2753. Winds are gentle cross-shore from the SE. However – and this is a big however – at this size, Kaituna Cut is predicted to be too big for this break. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, a 13ft groundswell with that period will likely be breaking too straight for easy paddling. If you’re not a seasoned charger, give this one a miss. The afternoon gets messy with cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions.
Sunday July 19 stays big – 6ft to 6ft from the NE and NNE, but winds get fresh and lumpy, and the combined energy is still strong (793). Poor surf conditions overall, and honestly, with the wind and size, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
From Monday July 20 onwards, the swell gradually fades back down to under 4ft, and the winds turn onshore and fresh, making it ugly. By Wednesday July 22, we’re back to tiny waves, under 2ft, with lumpy cross-onshore winds. Not worth the effort.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a bust. Tuesday July 14 offers a clean, small session for beginners. The one true standout is Saturday July 18 morning, but only for experts – and even then, it’s a cautionary call. The long-range forecast for the tail end of the second week shows small, choppy junk. It’s a tough outlook, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
Stay patient, keep an eye on the charts – things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wed 15 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | E 9 | N 12 | E 6 | E 8 | NNE 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
110 | 50 | 21 | 23 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 39 | 78 | 170 | 173 | 124 | 70 | 36 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:48AM1.67m | 1:26PM1.59m | 1:42AM1.67m | 2:24PM1.63m | 2:40AM1.68m | 3:25PM1.69m | 3:41AM1.71m | 4:26PM1.76m | 4:43AM1.75m | 5:26PM1.84m | 5:44AM1.79m | 6:24PM1.91m | 6:42AM1.82m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:15AM0.25m | 7:34PM0.36m | 8:08AM0.22m | 8:32PM0.36m | 9:04AM0.18m | 9:34PM0.33m | 10:04AM0.14m | 10:38PM0.28m | 11:04AM0.09m | 11:40PM0.23m | 12:04PM0.03m | 00:41AM0.16m | 1:01PM-0.01m | ||||||||
— | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | |
— | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | N 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 |
110 | 50 | 19 | 23 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 173 | 124 | 70 | 36 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | NE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 6 | E 7 | NE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | — | E 8 | — | — | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 |
14 | 14 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 9 | E 9 | NNE 6 | N 14 | E 7 | N 13 | N 13 | N 12 | E 9 | N 12 | — | E 8 | N 11 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 12 |
— | 3 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 2 | SSW 3 | SSE 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | S 3 | S 3 | SE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | NNE 5 | N 5 | N 6 | — | — | — | — | NW 2 |
1 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 29 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 39 | 78 | 170 | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 3 | 54 | 133 | 133 | 125 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 133 | 95 | 95 | 111 | 12 | 166 | 166 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 147 | 133 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Bay of Plenty | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kaituna Cut Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kaituna Cut provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kaituna Cut can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kaituna Cut 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 (Kaituna Cut) 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 Kaituna Cut 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 Bay of Plenty? If you are looking for accommodation near Kaituna Cut, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Bay of Plenty, consider staying in Tauranga which is 25 km (16 miles) away. Other places in and around Bay of Plenty where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Rotorua which is 46 km (29 miles) away, Whakatane and Cambridge.











