Karekare Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.00° S 174.48° E

Karekare Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 24 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Karekare sea temperature is
14.0° C
0.7° 

Karekare surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Karekare surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 21ft (6.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with 17,124 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period with NW 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 20s is also forecast. 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 6.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Fri 24th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 8s
Best Surf 6PM (Fri 24th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sat 25th Jul)21ft (6.5m) 14s

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 headin’ our way.

First up, the water temperature at Karekare is sittin’ at 57°, which is about 1° cooler than the long-term average for this time of year. Nothin’ wild, just a touch on the chilly side, so you’ll want that wetsuit fully zipped.

We’re lookin’ at a bit of a rough start. The swell is punchin’ in with moderate energy (539) on Friday morning, but that north wind is cross and the waves are lumpy. It ain’t pretty. Friday afternoon turns ugly - a 8ft NW windswell with a short 7-second period and a cross-onshore blowin’ 19 mph. That’s a write-off. Saturday is a total washout with a strong breeze and a massive 15ft to 23ft swell, way too big for this break. Sunday still has a solid 13ft groundswell (15 seconds) and 12ft groundswell (14 seconds), but the size is still too much for Karekare, even with that clean offshore wind on Sunday afternoon. It’s a real shame 'cause the conditions would be beautiful.

So, we’ve got a gap of no good surf until Monday. Monday and Tuesday are still messy with moderate cross-shore winds and a cross-chop, and the swell is hangin’ around the 8ft mark. That’s still big and bumpy. Not worth it.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday the 29th is the standout. The swell drops to a much friendlier 4ft from the WSW with an 11-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (520). But the real beauty is the wind: Wednesday afternoon goes glassy. That’s clean, smooth, and the waves will be shapin’ up nicely. It’s a fairly consistent break, so you can expect a few fun ones. This is the best on offer in the whole run.

Thursday the 30th is still alright – 6ft from the WSW, 13-second period, with a light cross-shore in the morning – but it’s not as clean as Wednesday. Friday the 31st gets sloppy again with a building swell and onshore wind.

Then we head into the second week, and it’s a mixed bag. Saturday the 1st of August has a 8ft swell from the WSW (11 seconds) with a clean cross-offshore wind, but it’s still big and the energy is strong (2208). Sunday the 2nd is smaller at 6ft with a clean cross-offshore, but it’s still a touch on the big side for a comfy paddle. The rest of the week (Monday 3rd through Friday 7th) is best described as "marginal" – the wind stays clean and cross-off, but the swell is either too small or too big, and the consistency is off. The crowd factor is "sometimes" here, so you might get a few waves to yourself on a quieter day, but it’s not consistent.

The final weekend, Saturday the 8th of August, sees a massive 12ft groundswell from the SW with a very long 17-second period. The energy is very strong (7246), but that size is only for experts. The wind is cross, but the sheer power of that swell will be intense. It’s a real shame it’s so big, 'cause the long period would normally make for some epic lines at this exposed spot.

Honestly, mark your calendar for Wednesday the 29th of July. That afternoon glassy session with 4ft of clean WSW swell is your best chance for a proper fun surf.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Sat morning, light winds from the WNW by Sun morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
!
0
!
!
!
2
2
4
3
2
2
2
3
4
3
2
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
WSW
12
2.3
NW
7
2.5
WNW
9
4.5
W
9
7
WSW
13
5.5
WSW
15
4
WSW
15
3.5
WSW
14
3
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
13
2.5
WSW
13
2
WSW
12
1.8
WSW
12
1.6
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
11
1.3
WSW
11
1.3
WSW
11
1.8
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
13
3
W
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
488
471
975
2816
15183
13009
7610
4456
3288
2472
2005
1132
936
686
458
359
352
1332
1155
1028
2805
Wind (km/h)
20
N
30
NNW
30
NW
45
W
50
WSW
35
WSW
5
WNW
5
ESE
20
S
20
S
20
S
5
SE
5
E
10
S
5
E
10
NE
5
W
10
NNE
10
N
15
NW
20
N
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
off
cross
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
6:00PM2.49m
6:28AM2.39m
7:06PM2.53m
7:31AM2.44m
8:02PM2.62m
8:23AM2.54m
8:48PM2.74m
9:07AM2.66m
9:29PM2.86m
9:47AM2.78m
10:07PM2.96m
10:26AM2.88m
10:45PM3.03m
Low Tide
11:46AM1.04m
00:25AM1.10m
12:48PM1.05m
1:30AM1.06m
1:49PM1.00m
2:27AM0.96m
2:41PM0.89m
3:12AM0.83m
3:25PM0.77m
3:51AM0.70m
4:04PM0.64m
4:28AM0.58m
4:41PM0.54m
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:22
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:32
5:34
 mm
4
9
4
3
1
1
1
2
Temp °C
14
13
13
12
11
12
12
10
11
11
11
11
10
10
9
11
12
11
13
14
12
Feels °C
9
7
8
3
1
3
10
8
5
6
6
7
7
7
6
8
10
8
9
11
9
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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