Surf Forecasts:
Karekare surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 12,472 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 12PM (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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 16s period. 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 5.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Karekare's been a bit of a mixed bag these past few days, but once we get past the Sunday blowout, things start looking up. The first couple of days are a write-off – Sunday 19 July is all cross-onshore wind and a lumpy 10-foot SW swell, not worth paddling out. But hang tight, because Monday morning 20 July lights up. A light NE cross-off breeze, 8-foot WSW groundswell with a 14-second period, and the combined energy sits at 2313 – that's moderate but punchy. The waves will be clean and powerful, perfect for experienced surfers. Monday afternoon holds similar, and Tuesday morning 21 July keeps it going with a 6-foot SW swell, 14 seconds, and a light ESE cross-off, energy 1161. Clean and solid. That's the standout window – two mornings of proper surf.
After that, Wednesday 22 July turns choppy again, and Thursday-Friday are marginal or poor. Saturday 25 July gets a raw deal – onshore wind and a 12-foot swell that's just too big for this break. Sunday 26 July sees a massive 16-foot SW swell with 16-second period, but the cross-onshore wind and huge energy (21924) make it a kite-surfing day, not a paddle session. The rest of the week is messy until Tuesday 28 July morning, when a clean SE cross-off and 6-foot SW swell (energy 933) give you a decent but smaller option. Wednesday 29 July morning is glassy with a light northerly and 5-foot WSW swell – clean but short-period 7 seconds in the afternoon, so morning's the call.
Then a big pulse rolls in from 30 July to 1 August – 10- to 15-foot WSW swells with clean cross-off winds, but every single one is flagged as too big for Karekare. That's expert-only territory, and even then it's sketchy. The real gem comes on Sunday 2 August: a 7-foot SW groundswell, 12-13 seconds, with a light ENE cross-off in the morning turning offshore in the afternoon. Energy around 1428-1606, clean conditions, and that's another excellent day for experienced surfers. Monday 3 August fades with fresh cross-onshore wind.
So if you're keen, lock in Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 July mornings, and keep an eye on Sunday 2 August – that's the pick of the later week. The gaps in between are mostly poor, but when it fires, it fires.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6461 | 5522 | 4342 | 3297 | 2313 | 1969 | 1310 | 1161 | 1011 | 828 | 486 | 330 | 209 | 880 | 1347 | 998 | 390 | 384 | 1561 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:15AM3.23m | 1:38PM3.10m | 1:57AM3.10m | 2:21PM2.97m | 2:40AM2.92m | 3:07PM2.81m | 3:25AM2.73m | 3:57PM2.65m | 4:19AM2.55m | 4:55PM2.53m | 5:21AM2.43m | 6:00PM2.49m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:34AM0.35m | 7:51PM0.50m | 8:17AM0.49m | 8:36PM0.65m | 9:03AM0.65m | 9:24PM0.82m | 9:52AM0.82m | 10:18PM0.97m | 10:47AM0.96m | 11:19PM1.07m | 11:46AM1.04m | 00:25AM1.10m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | |
 | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | 3 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 22 |
| kJ | 6461 | 5522 | 4342 | 3297 | 2313 | 1969 | 1310 | 1161 | 1011 | 828 | 486 | 330 | 209 | 880 | 1347 | 998 | 390 | 384 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | — | — | — | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | 31 | 52 | 102 | 123 | 68 | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | E 3 | — | — | — | SW 4 | SW 6 | SW 7 | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 5 | WNW 6 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 5076 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | 12 | 78 | 135 | — | — | 5 | 41 | 120 | 1561 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 86 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 90 | 132 | 236 | 95 | 6 | 317 | 6 | 95 | 319 | 99 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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