Surf Forecasts:
Karekare surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 8,713 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 29) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 8s. 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 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk Karekare in feet and Fahrenheit – same story, different numbers.
Water temp is about 57°, dead average for the time of year. The only half-decent window is Friday 28 August morning, with a 5ft swell from the WNW and an 11-second period, bringing moderate energy (1247). The 15 km/h NNE cross-off breeze keeps it clean, but it’s nothing to write home about. Saturday 29 August is small and rainy (3ft, weak), and from Sunday 30 August the wind cranks up from the WSW at 30–35 km/h, pushing 8–10ft of lumpy junk. That’s your weekend done.
From Sunday 30 August through Tuesday 1 September, the swell builds to 15ft with strong energy (up to 8713) and the wind stays nasty – fresh to strong breezes, all cross-onshore. By Wednesday 2 September the swell is still 10–12ft with the wind finally swinging onshore, but the wave comment says it’s too big for this break. That theme carries on: Thursday 3 September has 8ft, Friday 4 September is 10ft, and Saturday 5 September is 11–12ft with onshore wind – all too big, all messy.
The standout – if you can call it that – is Wednesday 9 September morning, when the swell hits a ridiculous 23ft from the WSW with a 16-second period and a monstrous energy reading of 24454. That’s for experts only, and even then the wind is moderate cross-onshore, so it’s not clean. The wave comment says wind and tide are okay but the swell is too big. Thursday 10 September stays huge (20ft) with 45 km/h cross-onshore winds. The rest of the week fades into blown-out slop, with 55 km/h near gale winds on Saturday 12 September.
No real standout session here. The best you get is Friday 28 August for a quick, average paddle. Everything else is too big, too windy, or both. Sometimes the ocean just shuts the door. Forecasts can change, but for now, Karekare is a no-go.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Fri night, strong winds from the WSW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Mon night, light winds from the W by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | SW 8 | WSW 16 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 505 | 419 | 362 | 346 | 277 | 354 | 662 | 970 | 6970 | 6740 | 8713 | 7628 | 8296 | 6967 | 5549 | 3895 | 3037 | 2934 | 2184 | 2589 | 3071 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:02AM2.90m | 10:20PM3.08m | 10:41AM2.99m | 10:58PM3.14m | 11:20AM3.03m | 11:36PM3.14m | 11:58AM3.02m | 00:13AM3.08m | 12:37PM2.97m | 00:52AM2.98m | 1:17PM2.88m | 1:32AM2.84m | 2:02PM2.77m | 2:20AM2.68m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:16PM0.37m | 4:39AM0.29m | 4:54PM0.29m | 5:16AM0.22m | 5:32PM0.27m | 5:54AM0.21m | 6:10PM0.30m | 6:32AM0.25m | 6:51PM0.39m | 7:12AM0.34m | 7:34PM0.51m | 7:56AM0.46m | 8:23PM0.65m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 8 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 11 | WSW 18 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
| kJ | 505 | 213 | 362 | 346 | 277 | 354 | 609 | 751 | 904 | — | — | — | 22 | 22 | 5549 | 3895 | 3037 | 2934 | 2184 | 2589 | 3071 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 22 | WNW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 20 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | — | SW 16 | — | — |
| kJ | 469 | 419 | 50 | 114 | 163 | 336 | 138 | 229 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 117 | 253 | 547 | — | 127 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 24 | WSW 23 | WSW 11 | NW 8 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 11 | 51 | 117 | 51 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | — | NW 9 | — | — | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 8 | WSW 16 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 273 | — | 287 | — | — | 165 | 662 | 970 | 6970 | 6740 | 8713 | 7628 | 8296 | 6967 | 4800 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 295 | 317 | 101 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 49 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 172 | 234 | 236 | 234 | 335 | 234 |
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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