Surf Forecasts:
Karekare surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 5,962 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Karekare in the next 16 days are 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Karekare.
We start on Wednesday, 12 August, but it’s flat and average. The first couple of days have a moderate offshore breeze and light rain, with a 0.9m swell from the WSW at a very long 18-second period. The energy is moderate (632), but the conditions are just marginal.
Thursday, 13 August is when things get interesting. Thursday morning has a 1.2m WNW swell with a 10-second period, a light NE cross-offshore breeze, and moderate energy (827). It’s clean. Then Thursday afternoon is the real standout: the wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell is 1.3m from the WSW with a very long 17-second period and strong energy (1902). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, with clean, glassy conditions.
Friday, 14 August keeps the good times rolling with offshore winds all day. The swell builds to 1.9m–2.0m from the WSW, period 16 seconds, and strong energy (1936–1948). Clean, excellent conditions.
Saturday, 15 August starts to fall apart. The morning has a 2.1m WSW swell with a 17-second period and very strong energy (2870), but the wind is cross-shore from the south. By afternoon, it’s a mess: 2.5m swell, onshore wind from the SSW at 30 km/h, and lumpy. No good.
Sunday, 16 August is completely out. The swell is 3.5m from the SW – way too big for Karekare – with strong cross-shore winds and very strong energy (5403–5852). Only for experts, and even then it’s sketchy.
From Monday, 17 August through the rest of the forecast, it’s mostly average to poor. The swell drops but stays messy with cross-shore winds and cross-chop. There’s a brief window on Saturday, 22 August morning with a glassy 1.2m SW swell, but it’s short-lived.
After that, from 23rd to 27th August, it’s onshore winds, choppy conditions, and weak to moderate energy. Swell between 0.7m and 1.7m, but the wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore. Not worth it.
So, the best session is Thursday afternoon, 13 August – glassy, 1.3m WSW swell, 17-second period, strong energy. That’s the one. Friday morning, 14 August is also a solid backup. After that, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Tue night, calm by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri night, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Fri night, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WNW 10 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 572 | 480 | 422 | 387 | 300 | 932 | 1018 | 1785 | 1948 | 1258 | 2674 | 3549 | 3420 | 5403 | 5428 | 5246 | 3746 | 3467 | 2667 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | off | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 9:02PM3.12m | 9:28AM3.04m | 9:54PM3.26m | 10:19AM3.17m | 10:41PM3.34m | 11:04AM3.24m | 11:24PM3.36m | 11:47AM3.25m | 00:05AM3.32m | 12:27PM3.20m | 00:42AM3.21m | 1:05PM3.08m | 1:18AM3.04m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:28AM0.33m | 3:48PM0.30m | 4:17AM0.18m | 4:35PM0.20m | 5:02AM0.09m | 5:19PM0.17m | 5:43AM0.08m | 6:00PM0.21m | 6:23AM0.15m | 6:39PM0.32m | 7:01AM0.27m | 7:17PM0.47m | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  |  | |  | |
 | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — |
mm | — | 5 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 346 | 480 | 422 | 194 | 300 | 647 | 1018 | 1785 | 1948 | 1258 | 2674 | 3549 | 3420 | 5403 | 5428 | 5246 | 3746 | 3467 | 2667 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 19 | SW 12 | W 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 | W 11 | WSW 20 | — | WSW 9 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 572 | 152 | 54 | 387 | 261 | 932 | 389 | 151 | — | 111 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | — | SW 6 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | — | — | — | WSW 20 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 22 | — | 2 | 102 | 266 | 323 | — | — | — | 149 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | SW 7 | SW 8 | — | SSW 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 11 | 18 | 11 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 120 | 255 | 925 | — | 424 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 86 | 90 | 86 | 90 | 6 | 48 | 49 | 90 |
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.
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