
Surf Forecasts:
Karekare surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 19s period, WSW swell with 25,859 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 12PM (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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Karekare in the next 16 days are 6.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 20ft (6.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Rusty here, checkin’ in from the beach. Lookin’ at the 16-day picture for Karekare, and honestly, it’s a wild one. The raw power is there right from the start, but the clean-up crew is late to the party.
We’ve got a massive, long-period WSW groundswell rollin’ in early on Saturday 5 September. We’re talkin’ 12 ft to 13 ft, with a period of 14 seconds and combined energy through the roof – 5147. But don’t get too excited. The wind is whackin’ it cross-on from the WSW at 9 mph, turnin’ it into a choppy mess. The water’s 57° – pretty average for this time of year. The swell is just too big and messy for a paddle session. This pattern holds through Sunday 6 September, Monday 7, and Tuesday 8 September – huge swell, but the wind stays onshore or cross-on, with speeds pickin’ up to 16 mph. It’s big, it’s strong, but it’s not clean.
Then, on Wednesday 9 September, a little window of hope. The morning shows a drop in size to 7 ft from the WSW, period 9 seconds – still a decent amount of energy (941). The wind swings to a light ESE cross-off at 3 mph. That’s the cleanest we’ll see in the whole forecast. The waves will be shapin’ up, and for a good surfer, that morning is the standout of the entire outlook – the only true moment where wind and swell align for a decent paddle. But it doesn’t last. By the afternoon, the wind goes back onshore, and the swell stays around 5 ft but gets sloppy.
From Thursday 10 September right through to the end of the forecast on 20 September, it’s a brutal run. The swell keeps pumpin’ – from 7 ft right up to a terrifying 21 ft on Saturday 12 September (combined energy of 22854!). But the wind is relentless: 25-28 mph cross-on or onshore, with no let-up. The surf will be huge, wild, and completely unsurfable with a paddleboard. Honestly, with these conditions, it looks like a setup more suited to kite surfing than traditional surfing for the entire second week and into the third. One other thing to note – on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September, the wind is onshore with rain and even thunderstorms, so steer well clear.
So to wrap it up: the only real chance to get wet is Wednesday 9 September morning. The rest is a powerful but blown-out beast.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun night, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Wed morning, strong winds from the WSW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | W 12 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 11 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4948 | 5875 | 6105 | 6432 | 7129 | 4543 | 3837 | 3023 | 1624 | 3446 | 2316 | 1250 | 672 | 573 | 1158 | 937 | 606 | 7445 | 7942 | 24726 | 23252 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:09PM2.58m | 4:40AM2.44m | 5:28PM2.60m | 6:01AM2.48m | 6:45PM2.71m | 7:17AM2.63m | 7:53PM2.89m | 8:21AM2.83m | 8:49PM3.08m | 9:14AM3.02m | 9:37PM3.23m | 10:00AM3.16m | 10:20PM3.31m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:48AM0.71m | 10:33PM0.87m | 11:01AM0.79m | 11:54PM0.86m | 12:23PM0.75m | 1:15AM0.72m | 1:40PM0.60m | 2:20AM0.49m | 2:41PM0.40m | 3:13AM0.27m | 3:31PM0.24m | 3:58AM0.12m | 4:14PM0.15m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | W 12 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 22 | — | — | — |
4948 | 5875 | 6105 | 6432 | 7129 | 4543 | 3837 | 3023 | 1624 | 3446 | 2316 | 1250 | 672 | 573 | 1158 | 937 | 606 | 317 | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | S 7 | WSW 22 | SW 21 | WSW 21 | WSW 19 | SW 18 | WSW 17 | — | — | — | — |
199 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 47 | 218 | 286 | 475 | 719 | 601 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | NW 8 | W 8 | — | W 26 | SW 24 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 51 | 49 | — | 13 | 141 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 9 | — | — | — | NW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | W 6 | WSW 16 | WSW 11 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 |
— | 218 | — | — | — | 321 | 1219 | 844 | 645 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 146 | 7445 | 7942 | 24726 | 23252 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 236 | 236 | 319 | 319 | 319 | 319 | 231 | 49 | 48 | 6 | 77 | 6 | 0 | 240 | 90 | 90 | 122 | 90 | 90 | 343 | 90 |
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.










