
Surf Forecasts:
Karekare surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, WNW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 17s period, W swell with 10,567 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Karekare this week:
The surf forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 05) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Karekare in the next 16 days are 4.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 5th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 16ft (5.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Karekare out West. We’ve got a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, with some proper solid swell and clean windows, but also some real heavy water.
First up, the water temp is sitting at about 58°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, no major anomaly there – just standard winter chill.
The immediate outlook is a bit average. Sunday July 5th is a write-off, small choppy stuff with onshore winds. Not worth paddling out for. Monday July 6th brings a big jump in size, with WNW swell pushing 13ft but the wind is ugly in the morning. In the arvo, the wind swings NE, making it cross-off and clean, but that 13ft swell is packing serious energy (8263) – that’s beyond beginner territory and heavy for most. Tuesday July 7th and Thursday July 9th also see that 10ft to 12ft range with favourable offshore winds from the East, making for clean faces, but again, this is expert-level size. The energy readings are massive (5210, 3896, 5729), so expect powerful, long-period groundswell (16 seconds) that will be lumpy and wonky at Karekare’s beach break, wanting to race through. Conditions are clean, but it’s only for the brave.
The standout looks to be Saturday July 11th. Early morning, swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the SW with a 15-second period, light offshore from the SE, and clean conditions. The energy is moderate (2126), but the quality for experienced surfers is rated well. This is the best window in the first week for someone who knows what they’re doing.
Sunday July 12th morning also has a sweet window, 7ft SW swell with a clean offshore from the East, offering another solid session for the experienced crew. The following days, from July 13th onwards, we see the swell backing off into the 4ft to 6ft range, still with clean morning conditions. Wednesday July 15th arvo is a real treat – glassy conditions with a tiny 2ft but a super long 18-second period swell. That’s pure, slow-building lines, perfect for a longboard or a funshape. The crowd factor at Karekare is "sometimes", so you might have company, but it’s not a circus.
We then have a long stretch of marginal, weak days from July 16th through the 19th. Swells are below 4ft, energy is low (between 455 and 1007). The wind is mostly clean, but there’s just no push. You’ll be bobbing around. Definitely a gap there with no real recommendations.
Then, out of the blue, Monday July 20th arvo throws a curveball – a 13ft pulse from the WNW with strong energy (6164). The wind is light, but that’s just way too much for the beach break at Karekare. This one is a pass, unless you have a death wish and a big gun.
So to wrap it up: if you’re an experienced surfer, circle Saturday July 11th and Sunday July 12th mornings for the best waves. For the mellow crew, that glassy Wednesday July 15th arvo is your sneaky winner. The rest of the window is either too big, too small, or too average.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | NW 10 | W 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 14 | SSW 9 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
712 | 563 | 796 | 3353 | 4914 | 7945 | 5026 | 3822 | 2541 | 2356 | 2644 | 2738 | 2669 | 2424 | 2684 | 3232 | 2313 | 1765 | 1492 | 1158 | 2462 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:22PM2.83m | 1:40AM2.87m | 2:05PM2.77m | 2:25AM2.81m | 2:53PM2.72m | 3:15AM2.76m | 3:49PM2.69m | 4:15AM2.72m | 4:54PM2.70m | 5:22AM2.72m | 6:03PM2.77m | 6:32AM2.78m | 7:12PM2.89m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:35PM0.68m | 8:00AM0.67m | 8:20PM0.73m | 8:47AM0.70m | 9:12PM0.78m | 9:42AM0.73m | 10:12PM0.81m | 10:44AM0.74m | 11:19PM0.81m | 11:50AM0.71m | 00:27AM0.75m | 12:57PM0.65m | 1:36AM0.65m | ||||||||
7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 14 | — | — | 3 | 10 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 10 | WSW 13 | W 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 20 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | WSW 16 | SW 14 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 18 |
712 | 388 | 676 | 2390 | 4914 | 7945 | 5026 | 3822 | 2541 | 2356 | 99 | 2738 | 2289 | 864 | 2684 | 2162 | 2089 | 1765 | 1492 | 1158 | 2462 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | — | WSW 18 | S 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 21 | — | SW 18 | WSW 16 | SW 22 | WSW 19 | WSW 14 | — | SW 11 | SW 21 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 |
486 | 563 | 796 | — | 1513 | 28 | 178 | 74 | 11 | 18 | — | 460 | 717 | 227 | 1004 | 250 | — | 224 | 220 | 214 | 88 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 12 | SW 24 | — | WSW 18 | SSW 10 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 24 | SW 22 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 20 | SSW 6 |
— | 75 | 22 | — | 1836 | 31 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | 227 | — | — | — | — | — | 552 | 52 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 3 | NW 10 | NNE 3 | ENE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | — | SW 14 | — | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | — | — |
— | — | 4 | 3353 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 46 | 47 | — | 2644 | — | 2669 | 2424 | 2069 | 3232 | 2313 | 520 | 414 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 49 | 49 | 147 | 83 | 128 | 6 | 13 | 48 | 6 | 50 | 86 | 6 | 78 | 77 | 78 | 99 | 107 | 48 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Karekare Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Karekare provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Karekare can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Karekare 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 (Karekare) 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 Karekare 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.
Karekare is 14 km (9 miles) from the city of Auckland. If you plan a holiday in Auckland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Auckland. Auckland has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










