
Surf Forecasts:
Makorori North surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, S swell with 7,301 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Makorori North this week:
The surf forecast for Makorori North over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Makorori North in the next 16 days are 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) 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 2.1m 12s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Makorori North over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
This is a tough stretch ahead for Makorori North. The next few days are a write-off. Tuesday the 4th through Thursday the 6th are completely unsurfable – strong cross-onshore winds, messy and lumpy conditions, and big, ugly swell. You’re looking at a solid three-day gap before anything even gets close to rideable.
The first real chance comes Friday morning, 7th August. Early there’s a clean, cross-offshore breeze with a small 4ft swell from the SE at a very long 12-second period. Wave energy is moderate (952). It’s not big, but the glassy conditions early will make for clean, workable waves at this advanced spot. The water temp is about 57°, which is pretty average for the time of year.
Saturday the 8th looks like the standout window. Morning has a proper offshore wind from the NW, with a 6ft swell from the S at 13 seconds. Wave energy is moderate (1142). That’s clean, lined-up surf – solid for the experienced crew. The afternoon stays clean too, with a 5ft swell. This is your best bet in the first week. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.
Sunday the 9th drops off a little – smaller 4ft swell and moderate offshore wind, but the energy drops (514). It’s surfable but nothing special.
Monday the 10th through Tuesday the 11th go straight back to rubbish – heavy rain, strong onshore winds, big messy swell over 8ft. For experts only, and even then, the quality is terrible.
Wednesday the 12th sees the wind ease, but it’s marginal with a 7ft SSE swell and cross-shore chop. Thursday the 13th morning is a real highlight if you’re patient – glassy conditions, 5ft SE swell, clean faces. It’s not huge, but it’ll be fun. Friday the 14th morning is also glassy with a smaller 4ft swell.
The second week gets messy again. From Saturday the 15th onwards, a big east swell builds, but it’s too big for this break – over 11ft and pushing 15ft by the 19th. The wind is cross or cross-off, and the wave energy is very strong (up to 5409), but these are expert-only, oversized, lumpy conditions. Not for the faint-hearted.
Best on offer: Saturday 8th August morning – offshore wind, 6ft S swell, clean. The Thursday 13th August glassy morning is a close second for smaller, cleaner waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the WNW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
930 | 2454 | 4585 | 6248 | 4443 | 2984 | 2515 | 846 | 598 | 441 | 1004 | 1531 | 956 | 746 | 411 | 286 | 265 | 591 | 242 | 279 | 240 | |
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-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:49AM1.38m | 10:08PM1.46m | 10:35AM1.40m | 10:54PM1.46m | 11:24AM1.43m | 11:44PM1.46m | 12:16PM1.46m | 00:38AM1.46m | 1:13PM1.49m | 1:36AM1.46m | 2:12PM1.52m | 2:36AM1.47m | 3:13PM1.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:02PM0.22m | 4:31AM0.18m | 4:49PM0.22m | 5:17AM0.17m | 5:38PM0.22m | 6:05AM0.16m | 6:32PM0.21m | 6:58AM0.15m | 7:28PM0.20m | 7:54AM0.13m | 8:28PM0.19m | 8:52AM0.11m | 9:29PM0.16m | ||||||||
7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
— | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | |
mm | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 8 |
Temp °C | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 1 | -2 | -4 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | — | NE 11 | SE 16 | S 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
14 | 14 | 6 | — | 5 | 41 | 1643 | 458 | 598 | 441 | 394 | 1531 | 956 | 746 | 411 | 286 | 265 | 591 | 242 | 279 | 240 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | E 16 | — | — | — | NE 11 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 10 | SE 12 | S 16 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SSE 16 | SE 10 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | NE 12 | S 12 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 |
7 | 5 | — | — | — | 5 | 57 | 92 | 177 | 335 | 1004 | 153 | 116 | 144 | 36 | 120 | 247 | 6 | 26 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 18 | NE 18 | NE 10 | SSE 13 | S 10 | SE 12 | NE 14 | SSE 16 | SE 11 | SSE 15 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | NNE 6 | E 12 | E 12 |
— | — | — | — | — | 6 | 12 | 4 | 151 | 51 | 244 | 8 | 149 | 43 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | N 3 | — | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | NE 5 |
930 | 2454 | 4585 | 6248 | 4443 | 2984 | 2515 | 846 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 6 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 97 | 113 | 118 | 147 | 298 | 45 | 10 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 45 | 96 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Makorori North Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Makorori North provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Makorori North can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Makorori North 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 North) 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 North 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 North, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Gisborne and Mahia, consider staying in Gisborne which is 13 km (8 miles) away.











