Surf Forecasts:
Makorori Centre surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 15s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 15s period, SSE swell with 1,491 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Makorori Centre this week:
The surf forecast for Makorori Centre over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Makorori Centre in the next 16 days are 1.8m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 2s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Makorori Centre over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about Makorori Centre. It's an exposed beach and reef setup, a real high-performance spot for those with the skills.
The next couple of weeks start off small but there's a couple of days that really stand out. The water temp's sitting at 56°, which is about what you'd expect for the time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
We kick off on Friday the 21st of August with a tiny, clean 2 ft groundswell from the SSE. That 16-second interval will have some push for the size, and with a light offshore breeze from the NW it'll be clean and inviting. Combined swell energy is moderate at 460. Friday afternoon the wind swings onshore, making it messy, so make the most of the morning.
Saturday the 22nd is another small but fun morning. Swell bumps to 3 ft from the SSE with a 12-second interval, and a gentle NW offshore keeps it clean. The energy drops to a moderate 264. Then Saturday afternoon it goes glassy – a 3 mph WNW breeze, clean 3 ft waves. It's small, but if you're on a log or a fish, that's a treat.
Sunday the 23rd stays clean but small with a moderate offshore breeze, dropping to 1 ft by the afternoon and energy down to a weak 58. Not much to chase.
Now, Monday the 24th is the first real standout. Morning sees a jump in size to a solid 7 ft from the SSW, with a 9-second interval. The light offshore breeze from the W is clean, and combined swell energy jumps to a strong 841. This is proper, punchy wave energy. It's getting towards that expert-only bracket. Afternoon gets messy with a direct onshore.
Tuesday the 25th is a good follow-up. Clean 4 ft SSE swell with a 12-second interval and a light NW offshore. Energy is a healthy 355. A solid, fun morning session.
After that, the surf settles into a long run of small but clean mornings through the end of the week and into the next. The 28th and 29th of August offer little waist-high waves, decent for a cruise but nothing to get fired up about.
We hit a bit of a lull. The 30th of August is tiny and weak, and the 31st picks up to a clean 3 ft groundswell from the SSE, a little more energy at 276. Then we get into the first of September, which is more of the same – small and clean, but inconsistent.
Hold on though, the real big boy arrives on Thursday the 3rd of September. The forecast shows a massive 16 ft swell from the S with a 14-second interval. The combined energy is a staggering 14355. That's a monster. The wind is strong cross-shore, so conditions won't be perfect, but more importantly, that size is way out of the comfort zone for this break. It’s a big wave day for experts only, and even then, it's sketchy.
The true top pick for this whole stretch is Friday the 4th of September. The swell has dropped to a more manageable, but still very solid, 8 ft from the SSE, interval at 14 seconds, with combined energy at 2089. And the wind? Glassy. Completely off the charts with a 3 mph WNW breeze. That's going to produce some incredible, clean, powerful waves at Makorori Centre. That is for experienced surfers only. One of those mornings you'll remember.
Following that, Saturday the 5th of September drops back to a clean 4 ft, a solid option but nothing compared to the day before.
So overall, there's a lot of small, clean surf on offer for the patient surfer, but the absolute standout window is Monday the 24th of August for a size increase, and then absolutely Friday the 4th of September for the best combination of size, interval, and perfect conditions.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the NW by Sun morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | SSW 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | S 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
211 | 568 | 242 | 230 | 156 | 105 | 75 | 33 | 33 | 718 | 359 | 829 | 317 | 189 | 101 | 149 | 229 | 193 | 169 | 152 | 419 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | off | off | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | off | cross-on | off | off | cross | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 12:27PM1.37m | 00:46AM1.32m | 1:15PM1.34m | 1:34AM1.29m | 2:05PM1.32m | 2:23AM1.27m | 2:54PM1.32m | 3:13AM1.26m | 3:44PM1.33m | 4:02AM1.26m | 4:32PM1.35m | 4:51AM1.28m | 5:18PM1.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:39PM0.32m | 6:59AM0.30m | 7:27PM0.36m | 7:46AM0.33m | 8:16PM0.38m | 8:35AM0.34m | 9:07PM0.39m | 9:23AM0.34m | 9:57PM0.37m | 10:13AM0.32m | 10:47PM0.35m | 11:01AM0.29m | 11:36PM0.31m | ||||||||
6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 17 |
119 | 568 | 242 | 230 | 156 | 105 | 75 | 25 | 33 | 106 | 359 | 829 | 317 | 189 | 101 | 52 | 229 | 193 | 169 | 152 | 419 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | ESE 13 | SSE 17 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | S 17 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 |
130 | 123 | 63 | 30 | 17 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 9 | 16 | 166 | 45 | 32 | 53 | 73 | 149 | 32 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | — | SSE 16 | E 14 | E 14 | SE 8 | SE 10 | — | NE 5 | NE 5 | ESE 13 | NE 11 | S 18 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 13 | NE 10 | NE 10 |
211 | — | 97 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | WNW 2 | SSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | — | — | NW 3 |
— | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 718 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Makorori Centre Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Makorori Centre provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Makorori Centre can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Makorori Centre 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 (Makorori Centre) 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 Makorori Centre 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia? If you are looking for accommodation near Makorori Centre, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Gisborne and Mahia, consider staying in Gisborne which is 12 km (7 miles) away.











