Motu River surf break

Motu River surfForecast / East Cape / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Sunday 06 Jul 2025 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Motu River surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Motu River sea temperature is
15.9° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Motu River this week:

The surf forecast for Motu River over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 12) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Motu River in the next 12 days are 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 12) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Jul 07) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Sat 12th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 9s
Best Surf 6AM (Sat 12th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 9s
Most Powerful12AM (Sat 12th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Motu River over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Monday
07
Tuesday
08
Wednesday
09
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Fri
18
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.4
NE
0.4
NE
0.4
NE
0.4
NE
0.4
NE
0.4
NE
0.2
ENE
0.2
ENE
0.4
NE
0.4
NE
0.3
ENE
0.3
ENE
0.3
ENE
0.7
NW
2
N
4
NNW
2.5
NNW
3
NNW
3
NW
2.2
NW
1.8
NW
1.3
NW
1.1
NW
0.9
WNW
0.9
WNW
1.1
NW
1.5
NW
1.3
NNW
1.3
NNW
1.1
NNW
3
NNW
3
NNW
3.5
NNW
2.5
NNW
1.9
NW
1.6
NW
Period(s) (?)99999914141313131212569999887665667878101010109
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy (?)4325252323372726454433293041322280395712201209632390176846448741721631751351302178021061508653421
Wind
(km/h)
15
SSE
10
SE
5
SSE
10
SE
5
S
0
W
10
SE
5
SE
5
W
5
S
5
WSW
5
WSW
5
E
20
ENE
30
NNE
25
NW
25
NW
30
NW
30
WNW
30
WNW
25
W
25
W
10
WSW
10
W
10
WSW
5
WSW
5
W
5
WSW
5
E
10
NNW
30
N
5
SE
15
W
20
WSW
10
SW
10
WSW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offcross-
off
glasscross-
off
offglasscross-
off
cross-
off
glassglassglasscross-
off
glasscross-
on
oncross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
crosscrosscross-
off
crosscross-
off
glasscrossglassglassononcross-
off
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
3:35AM
1.84
4:28PM
1.85
4:25AM
1.83
5:22PM
1.89
5:18AM
1.85
6:11PM
1.93
6:09AM
1.89
6:55PM
1.98
6:57AM
1.94
7:36PM
2.01
7:41AM
1.98
8:17PM
2.04
8:23AM
1.99
8:58PM
2.07
9:04AM
1.99
9:41PM
2.08
9:47AM
1.98
10:25PM
2.08
10:32AM
1.96
11:10PM
2.06
11:23AM
1.94
11:57PM
2.04
12:19PM
1.95
Low Tide
/ height (m)
9:38PM
0.85
10:04AM
0.73
10:30PM
0.87
10:55AM
0.73
11:20PM
0.85
11:43AM
0.71
12:08AM
0.81
12:28PM
0.67
12:54AM
0.76
1:12PM
0.62
1:40AM
0.70
1:54PM
0.56
2:25AM
0.65
2:37PM
0.50
3:10AM
0.60
3:19PM
0.46
3:55AM
0.54
4:03PM
0.45
4:42AM
0.49
4:49PM
0.47
5:28AM
0.45
5:37PM
0.52
6:16AM
0.44
Monday
07
Tuesday
08
Wednesday
09
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Fri
18
Sunrise-7:24--7:24--7:24--7:24--7:24--7:22--7:22--7:22--7:22--7:20--7:20--7:20-
Sunset--5:02--5:04--5:05--5:05--5:06--5:06--5:07--5:07--5:07--5:08--5:09--5:10
clearclearpart cloudclearclearpart cloudpart cloudpart cloudcloudcloudpart cloudpart cloudcloudheavy rainheavy rainrain showersthunderstorm rain showersrain showersrain showersrain showersrain showerspart cloudclearpart cloudclearclearclearcloudrain showersheavy rainheavy rainrain showersrain showersclearpart cloud
Rain (mm)
-------------121750348622-------2161211--
Temp. °C11121291313101212101413131414151414141313121212121413121415151213131314
Feels °C (?)7101061111711108131211109999979891010131212131411111091011

Short Range Forecast: Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 86mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri night, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the NNE by Fri night).

Days 6-9 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat night, calm by Tue afternoon).

Long Range Forecast: Heavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Wed night).

  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Motu River Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Motu River provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Motu River can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Motu River 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 (Motu River) 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 Motu River 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.

Motu River is 55 km (34 miles) from Whakatane. If you plan a holiday in East Cape, look for hotels and other accommodation in Whakatane. Whakatane has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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