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Surf Forecasts:

Motu River surf break

Motu River surfForecast / East Cape / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Thursday 18 Sep 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
14.5° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

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 Friday (Sep 19) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Motu River in the next 12 days are 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 25) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Friday (Sep 19) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Fri 19th Sep)5ft (1.6m) 8s
Best Surf 6AM (Fri 19th Sep)5ft (1.6m) 8s
Most Powerful12PM (Thu 25th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 10s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Thu afternoon, calm by Sat morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.3
NW
2
NW
1.3
NW
0.9
NW
0.4
NNW
0.4
NW
0.3
NNW
0.1
N
0.7
N
0.9
NNW
1.3
NNW
1.4
NNW
1.4
NNW
1.3
NNW
1.2
NNW
1.4
NNW
1.5
NNW
1.7
NNW
1.9
NNW
1.9
NNW
3.5
N
Period(s) (?)7887666134566776667779
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)5584582007116107315441361611711411151391772773383351885
Wind
(km/h)
30
WNW
20
W
15
SSW
15
SSE
10
SSE
0
WSW
5
NW
10
ENE
15
N
20
N
20
NNW
20
N
20
N
20
N
15
N
15
N
15
N
20
N
20
NNW
20
NNE
40
NE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		crosscross-
off		offcross-
off		glasscross-
on		crossononononononononononononcross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
3:58PM
1.92
4:12AM
1.81
4:55PM
1.94
5:12AM
1.81
5:46PM
1.94
6:07AM
1.84
6:32PM
1.93
6:56AM
1.88
7:15PM
1.92
7:41AM
1.90
7:57PM
1.90
8:23AM
1.91
8:37PM
1.89
9:02AM
1.90
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:08PM
0.66
10:27AM
0.58
11:06PM
0.62
11:22AM
0.57
12:00AM
0.57
12:14PM
0.55
12:50AM
0.51
1:03PM
0.52
1:36AM
0.47
1:50PM
0.50
2:18AM
0.44
2:33PM
0.50
2:57AM
0.44
Thu
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Sunrise--6:03--6:03--6:01--5:58--5:58--5:56--5:54
Sunset6:01--6:02--6:02--6:04--6:05--6:06--6:07--
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
heavy rain
heavy rain
mod rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
Rain (mm)
83---------2----1212101231
Temp. °C1414121171212913131314141415151415151515
Feels °C (?)91187399799101110101213121312137
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for East Cape

  1. weather stationWind Update Still cross-shore at Motu River (light winds from the WNW at WhakataneAeroAws 60 km from Motu River). A 2.2m swell from the NW

    1 hour 18 minutes ago Motu River
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Motu River surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Motu River at:
surf-forecast.com

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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