Surf Forecasts:
Karekare surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with 6,779 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Karekare in the next 16 days are 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 3PM. 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+) | 6AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Karekare over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty, and let's have a look at what's cookin' for the Karekare stretch over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, the forecast is a bit of a mixed bag. We're looking at a heap of energy coming in, with combined swell values hitting four-digit figures a lot of the time, but the winds and conditions aren't always playing the game. There's a bit of a wait for the really good stuff, with a few quiet days in between.
Kicking off from Wednesday the 19th, we've got a solid 8ft SW groundswell rolling in with a 14-second period, and Thursday morning the 20th is looking like a real standout. A light SSE breeze (6 mph) has things clean with cross-off wind, and that's where you wanna be. The water temp is sitting on 57°F, which is about average for the time of year. The swell energy is pumping, reading 2265 (moderate), and this is ideal for experienced surfers. That setup is too big for beginners, with the swell over 5ft. The rest of Thursday arvo gets a bit scrappy with a cross-on wind.
Friday the 21st is a write-off, with onshore westerlies and messy waves, same for most of Saturday the 22nd where the swell drops right off to under 3ft. Sunday the 23rd has some size to it—10ft—but that fresh cross-on breeze (22 mph) from the WNW creates lumpy, choppy lines. That's more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surf one.
Now, Monday the 24th, things get interesting but a bit dangerous. We've got a big 10ft WSW swell with a long 15-second period and combined energy of 4399 (strong). The wind is light and onshore, but the main issue is that the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, so really only for experts or just a spectacle. Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th are mostly choppy cross-on conditions, so not much joy there.
Then we get another glimmer. Thursday morning the 27th, a 6ft WSW swell with a 12-second period, and a light NE offshore breeze (9 mph) with cross-off wind has it clean. That's a good, manageable size for intermediates. Friday the 28th morning offers a 8ft WNW swell but with a moderate breeze, so it's marginal.
The second week kicks off with a beauty. Sunday the 30th is a real highlight. A 3ft to 4ft WSW groundswell with a very long 18-second period, and light offshore E to ESE winds (6 mph) with cross-off conditions keeping it glassy. The combined energy is 1127 to 1413 (moderate), and that long period gives it great shape, especially for a point or reef setup. This is easily the best on offer for a relaxed paddle. Monday the 31st holds similar clean cross-off conditions with 4ft to 4ft swell, though the period drops a touch to 14-15 seconds. That's another solid day.
Tuesday the 1st of September sees a bit more juice with 7ft WNW swell, but the S wind is cross-shore and starts to chop it up. Wednesday the 2nd has massive 10ft W swell with 12-second period and combined energy of 3342 (strong), but again, it's too big for this break and the cross-shore wind makes it lumpy. The last few days into Thursday the 3rd are just marginal with cross-shore winds and lumpy chop.
So, for the standout: Thursday morning the 20th for the experienced crew with that 8ft clean SW swell, and for the regular surfer, Sunday the 30th with the clean, long-period glassy waves is the one to pencil in.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sun morning, light winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
3080 | 2265 | 1688 | 1144 | 1061 | 929 | 934 | 581 | 323 | 248 | 913 | 1781 | 724 | 1928 | 6779 | 5107 | 3766 | 3271 | 2222 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:32AM2.61m | 3:05PM2.55m | 3:21AM2.39m | 4:04PM2.40m | 4:27AM2.23m | 5:15PM2.33m | 5:44AM2.19m | 6:29PM2.37m | 6:57AM2.26m | 7:32PM2.50m | 7:55AM2.41m | 8:20PM2.66m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:59AM0.83m | 9:26PM1.04m | 9:49AM1.00m | 10:28PM1.17m | 10:51AM1.12m | 11:43PM1.21m | 12:05PM1.13m | 1:03AM1.14m | 1:19PM1.04m | 2:05AM0.97m | 2:16PM0.87m | 2:49AM0.77m | |||||||
— | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 19 | WSW 17 | W 9 | SW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
3080 | 2265 | 1688 | 1144 | 1061 | 929 | 934 | 581 | 323 | 195 | 146 | 360 | 724 | 813 | 6779 | 5107 | 3766 | 3271 | 2222 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | W 24 | WSW 19 | WSW 16 | — | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 271 | — | — | 11 | 140 | 104 | — | 399 | 1928 | 102 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 24 | SSW 6 | — | — | WSW 15 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | — | — | 249 | 166 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 |
— | — | — | — | — | 21 | 19 | 10 | 71 | 248 | 913 | 1781 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 6 | 122 | 90 | 132 | 123 | 132 | 317 | 319 | 335 | 332 | 77 | 127 | 236 | 147 | 239 | 335 | 335 |
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.











