
Surf Forecasts:
Karekare surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, WNW swell with 2,118 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) 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 0.9m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Karekare over the next couple of weeks.
The first real chance of a wave comes in on Saturday the 8th of August, with a small, clean 2ft swell from the WSW, but it’s not exactly pumping. The real story starts to build from Sunday the 9th, with a jump in size, but it comes with a bit of a messy side to it. We’ve got a solid 8ft NW swell on Sunday morning, but the wind is swinging cross-shore and there’s light rain – it’s a bit of a mixed bag, and the wave energy is strong (3314), but the quality isn't quite there for a standout.
The pick of the bunch, and the one I’d be circling on the calendar, is Thursday the 13th of August. In the afternoon, the wind drops to a glassy 3 mph from the WNW, and you’ve got a 4ft WSW groundswell with a long 14-second period. The combined energy is very strong (1004), and the report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a clean, lined-up afternoon session. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so a decent 3/2mm will do.
Then, on Friday the 14th, the morning holds a similar 4ft swell from the WSW, still clean with a light offshore breeze, though the crowd is sometimes an issue here, so get in early. The morning of Saturday the 22nd of August also looks promising, with a clean 6ft swell from the WSW and a light cross-offshore breeze, but that’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it.
There’s a big gap of poor conditions from the 15th through to the 21st of August, where the swell gets massive – over 10ft – and the wind is onshore and strong. The wave energy is off the charts (up to 15834), but it’s a mess and way too big for this break. Unless you’re a crazy charger, give that window a miss.
So, the standout is clear: Thursday the 13th of August afternoon for the glassy, clean conditions on a solid groundswell. Get amongst it.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed night, min 11°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the NE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
89 | 116 | 139 | 486 | 1280 | 773 | 486 | 643 | 1067 | 1010 | 672 | 536 | 572 | 480 | 427 | 469 | 325 | 504 | 762 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:55AM2.57m | 5:41PM2.68m | 6:12AM2.59m | 6:55PM2.79m | 7:26AM2.71m | 8:03PM2.95m | 8:31AM2.87m | 9:02PM3.12m | 9:28AM3.04m | 9:54PM3.26m | 10:19AM3.17m | 10:41PM3.34m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:51PM0.83m | 11:19AM0.73m | 00:06AM0.81m | 12:34PM0.71m | 1:22AM0.71m | 1:49PM0.61m | 2:31AM0.53m | 2:54PM0.46m | 3:28AM0.33m | 3:48PM0.30m | 4:17AM0.18m | 4:35PM0.20m | |||||||
— | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 5 |
Temp °C | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WSW 18 | WNW 10 | NW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WNW 10 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 |
89 | 49 | 110 | 390 | 1001 | 287 | 272 | 643 | 1067 | 1010 | 672 | 536 | 290 | 480 | 427 | 469 | 288 | 504 | 762 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 19 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | NW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | WSW 19 | WSW 12 | W 12 | WNW 11 | WSW 14 | WNW 9 | W 10 |
15 | 116 | 79 | 56 | 1033 | 773 | 467 | 434 | 7 | 104 | 67 | 43 | 572 | 101 | 26 | 191 | 325 | 177 | 138 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | WSW 19 | WSW 19 | — | — | WSW 10 | WSW 18 | WSW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | SW 22 | WSW 21 | SW 7 | SW 7 | NW 6 | WSW 20 | WSW 19 | SW 18 | WSW 12 |
17 | 35 | 139 | — | — | 202 | 486 | 83 | 17 | 4 | 123 | 294 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 233 | 323 | 49 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 4 | N 3 | NW 8 | NW 10 | — | — | — | SW 9 | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | NNE 3 | — | — | WNW 8 |
— | 9 | 5 | 486 | 1280 | — | — | — | 178 | — | — | — | 6 | 24 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 476 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 35 | 0 | 35 | 319 | 6 | 80 | 49 | 49 | 77 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.











