Makorori Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the Gisborne coast. We’ve got a real mixed bag of a forecast, plenty of swell, but a lot of wind to fight through. The standout window is the first week, with a couple of absolute gems, but the back half of the run is a bit of a waiting game.

The first real action hits Monday morning, August 3rd. Makorori Point is looking clean and solid. It’s a point break, so it needs that swell direction to line up, and it’s getting a nice 4ft SSE swell, with a period of 11 seconds—that’s proper groundswell, giving shape and power. The wind is a clean offshore from the NW at 12 mph, making for some tidy lines. The combined energy is sitting at 317 (moderate), so nothing crazy, but enough to get a good session in. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. This is a break for the experienced crew; it’s very consistent, but crowds can pop up sometimes, so get in early.

Monday afternoon, the wind swings around to a light SSE onshore, and the swell drops a touch. It’s still surfable, but the quality dips. Tuesday brings a bit of a weather shift with light rain and a strong SSW cross-shore that’s going to mess things up. The swell builds through the day, hitting 12ft by Tuesday afternoon, but with a strong cross-shore wind at 25 mph, the surface is going to be a lumpy mess. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. Wednesday is even bigger, with a 15ft S swell and strong cross-shore winds—definitely one to watch from the beach.

Thursday morning, June 6th, shows some improvement. The swell drops to 8ft from the SSW, and the wind is a cleaner cross-offshore from the WSW at 12 mph. The combined energy is still high at 2439 (strong), but the surface is clean. It’s still a bit of a handful, with an 8ft swell, so experienced surfers only. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy again.

Now, here’s the standout. Friday morning, August 7th. Makorori Point is firing nicely. The swell is 4ft from the SE, with a 10-second period, and we’ve got a light NW offshore breeze at 6 mph. The combined energy is 607 (moderate to strong), and the conditions are clean. This is a top morning session—consistent, good shape, and the wind is your friend. Saturday morning, the 8th, is also a beauty: 4ft SSE swell, 13-second period, and a gentle NW offshore at 9 mph. The energy is 609. It’s a repeat of the Friday magic. Sunday morning, the 9th, is a similar story with a 4ft SE swell and a 16-second period, glassy offshore wind. That’s a groundswell with serious travel, and it’s going to be long, clean lines at the point.

After that, the surf drops off quick. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are small and onshore, with weak energy. There’s a gap of a few days with poor conditions.

Then we get another promising window on Thursday, the 13th of August. The morning brings a 8ft S swell, but the period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s a bit of a windswell. However, the wind is a clean NW offshore at 9 mph, and the combined energy is 1283 (strong). This is solid, powerful surf, but that short period means it’ll be a bit lumpy and fast—definitely for experts only. The afternoon has a gentler 8ft swell but a cross-shore breeze.

The final stretch from Friday the 14th to Sunday the 16th is small again, with 4ft to 5ft SE swells. The morning sessions on the 15th and 16th are clean with light offshore winds, offering some fun, small waves for a longboard or a fish. Nothing special, but a nice way to end the run.

So, the best on offer is the Friday and Saturday mornings of the 7th and 8th of August, with the Sunday morning of the 9th a close second. Get out there early for the glassy conditions.

Rusty.

Read more