Surf Forecasts:
Karekare surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with 7,221 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period with SW 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 19) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Karekare in the next 16 days are 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for Karekare.
It’s a bit of a wild ride ahead. The week kicks off with a massive pulse of south-west groundswell – we’re talking serious energy here (5023). But the problem is, it comes with a strong south crosswind that’s going to chop it all up. The swell is also pushing 12 ft, which is too much for most and really only for the brave, but the wind is the killer. That Monday arvo, and most of the following days, are a write-off due to onshore or cross-shore winds and that big, unruly swell. You’ve got a few days there from the 18th to the 19th where the conditions are just poor.
The real standout, and the only time I’d actually get excited, is Thursday, the 20th of August. The morning is looking glassy with a light SSE breeze, and you've still got a solid 7 ft SW groundswell (2004) with a long 14-second period. The water temp is about average for this time of year at 57°. That window is the one to circle. It’s going to be clean and powerful, but that size and long period means it’s definitely one for experienced surfers only. The afternoon gets a bit of a cross-breeze, so the morning is the call.
After that, the wind turns against us again. We get a lot of onshore and cross-onshore conditions for the rest of the week and weekend, with waves bouncing between 3 ft and 8 ft. There’s a messy period from the 23rd with a strong onshore blow, so don't bother.
Things start looking up a bit towards the end of the month. We get a couple of clean mornings on the 27th and 28th of August with offshore easterly winds and a manageable 4 ft to 7 ft SW swell. Those are solid, clean sessions. Then on the 1st of September, there’s another long-period SW groundswell (2326) filling in with a clean cross-offshore breeze, but that’s still a way off.
So, bottom line: Thursday morning, the 20th of August, is your best bet for a proper, powerful, clean session. Keep an eye on the 27th and 28th as well for cleaner but smaller conditions.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Tue night, light winds from the SE by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri night, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Thu night, fresh winds from the WNW by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 11 | W 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3137 | 2095 | 1672 | 2140 | 1486 | 1348 | 2933 | 2004 | 1621 | 1077 | 961 | 743 | 682 | 456 | 323 | 317 | 1193 | 1215 | 3601 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 1:18AM3.04m | 1:42PM2.93m | 1:54AM2.84m | 2:21PM2.74m | 2:32AM2.61m | 3:05PM2.55m | 3:21AM2.39m | 4:04PM2.40m | 4:27AM2.23m | 5:15PM2.33m | 5:44AM2.19m | 6:29PM2.37m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:39AM0.44m | 7:56PM0.65m | 8:18AM0.63m | 8:37PM0.85m | 8:59AM0.83m | 9:26PM1.04m | 9:49AM1.00m | 10:28PM1.17m | 10:51AM1.12m | 11:43PM1.21m | 12:05PM1.13m | 1:03AM1.14m | |||||||
 |  | | | | |  | |  | |  |  | | | | |  |  |  | |
 | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 4 |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
Feels °C | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 11 | WSW 19 | WSW 17 | WSW 15 |
| kJ | 3137 | 2095 | 1672 | 2140 | 1486 | 1348 | 2933 | 2004 | 1621 | 1077 | 961 | 743 | 682 | 456 | 323 | 317 | 319 | 360 | 3601 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 16 | — | — | SW 6 | WSW 19 | WSW 13 | — | WSW 18 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 327 | 726 | — | — | — | — | — | 234 | — | — | 39 | 148 | 17 | — | 184 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 323 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 17 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 5 | S 5 | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | — | — | W 3 | WNW 3 | W 6 | WSW 6 | WNW 5 | W 6 | W 8 | WSW 9 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 71 | 45 | 380 | 220 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | 77 | 69 | 23 | 202 | 1193 | 1215 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 77 | 49 | 108 | 132 | 147 | 96 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 122 | 132 | 132 | 317 | 335 | 335 | 335 | 129 | 123 |
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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