Surf Forecasts:
Karekare surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 23ft (7.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with 20,414 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s 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 (Sep 05) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Karekare in the next 16 days are 7.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 23ft (7.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking at Karekare for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the start of this run is a write-off. We’ve got a massive, lumpy SW swell hammering the coast, with cross-onshore winds making a proper mess of things. The energy readings are through the roof, but with the wind and size, it’s not for paddling. This spot is exposed to the SW, and for the first week, it's either too big, too windy, or both. You’d be looking at 10 ft to 23 ft swells with periods around 14 to 17 seconds, but the conditions are just not there.
We finally get a break in the weather around Saturday the 11th of September. Saturday morning is a real standout. We’ve got an 8 ft SW groundswell (18-second period) with a lovely light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE. The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is bang on average for this time of year – nothing weird there. That combo is going to make for some clean, lined-up walls. This is one for the experienced crew though; that swell size and long period will pack a punch. Heads up, Karekare can get a few bodies in the water "sometimes", so you might have a bit of company for those peaky sets.
Sunday the 12th of September is worth a mention too. A 8 ft SW groundswell hangs in there, still with a clean, light offshore NE breeze in the morning. It's a tick smaller, but the quality should be there for a solid paddle.
After that little window, it gets grumpy again on the 14th and 15th with more cross-onshore wind and building swell. The very end of the outlook, on the 16th of September, shows a 10 ft SW swell with light winds, but it's still a bit on the big side and the wind is forecast to turn cross-on again in the afternoon. It’s a maybe.
So, to put it simply: the first week is a total mess. Your best bet is to wait for the 11th of September (Saturday) morning. That’s the pick of the fortnight. The 12th is a solid backup.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Sat night, strong winds from the NNW by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 11 | W 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | W 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
10061 | 8471 | 5795 | 3959 | 3102 | 2553 | 1945 | 1848 | 774 | 3813 | 2102 | 4584 | 4704 | 4531 | 4756 | 4729 | 4290 | 11784 | 12016 | 20414 | 11201 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:37PM2.97m | 00:52AM2.98m | 1:17PM2.88m | 1:32AM2.84m | 2:02PM2.77m | 2:20AM2.68m | 2:58PM2.66m | 3:23AM2.52m | 4:09PM2.58m | 4:40AM2.44m | 5:28PM2.60m | 6:01AM2.48m | 6:45PM2.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:51PM0.39m | 7:12AM0.34m | 7:34PM0.51m | 7:56AM0.46m | 8:23PM0.65m | 8:47AM0.59m | 9:21PM0.79m | 9:48AM0.71m | 10:33PM0.87m | 11:01AM0.79m | 11:54PM0.86m | 12:23PM0.75m | 1:15AM0.72m | ||||||||
6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 6 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 24 | — | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | — | — | — | WSW 14 |
22 | — | 5795 | 3959 | 3102 | 2553 | 1945 | 1848 | 769 | 2480 | 2102 | 4584 | 4704 | 4531 | 4756 | 4729 | 4290 | — | — | — | 11201 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 21 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | WSW 14 | — | — | WNW 10 | WSW 14 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 117 | 253 | 547 | 125 | 129 | — | 774 | — | — | 394 | 1504 | 188 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | W 14 | W 10 | — | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | N 3 | WNW 7 | W 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 15 | — |
10061 | 8471 | — | 3398 | — | — | — | — | — | 3813 | 1879 | — | 264 | 111 | 131 | 7 | 674 | 11784 | 12016 | 20414 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 95 | 90 | 234 | 236 | 236 | 236 | 319 | 335 | 319 | 335 | 358 | 77 | 236 | 370 | 6 | 359 | 370 | 49 | 86 | 123 | 95 |
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.











