Mount Maunganui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty here. Got to be honest, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak on the surf front for a while. We’ve got a long stretch of flat, messy conditions ahead, but there’s a glimmer of hope right at the end of the run if you’re patient.

The next week and a bit is a total washout. From Sunday the 23rd right through to the end of the month, the swell is tiny, and the winds are all over the shop, kicking up chop and ruining any chance of a clean wave. There are a couple of pulses, like on Friday the 28th with a wave around 4ft, but the onshore wind is going to destroy it. It’s a solid blank run—nothing worth paddling out for.

We’re looking at a gap of a week or more with no real options. Then, on Tuesday, the 1st of September, things finally shift. The wind goes offshore and we get some clean conditions. The surf is still small, only around 2ft to 2ft, but at least it’s rideable. The period is around 10 seconds, so there’s a bit of energy, but it’s still a small-wave day. Surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Now, here’s the one to wait for. Thursday, the 3rd of September, that’s your day. A new swell from the NNW arrives, pushing the surf up to around 4ft in the morning, and then it builds through the day to a solid 6ft by the afternoon. The wind is light and offshore in the morning, which will keep things clean. This is the standout of the whole window. The wave energy is strong, jumping from a moderate level to a very strong 551 by the afternoon. It’s a short-period swell, around 8 seconds, so it might be a bit crumbly, but it’s the most power we’ve seen in ages. This one is for the experienced crew—6ft is no joke for the beginners.

After that, it fades back down to small and lumpy again. So, that Thursday afternoon is your target. It’s a long way out, so treat it as promising but not set in stone, but it's the only true swell on the board. Get it in your calendar.

Water temp at Mount Maunganui is about 57°, which is pretty standard for this time of year, maybe a little under the average. No surprises there.

The break itself is fairly consistent and fairly exposed, which is a plus, but it needs some swell to work. That NNW groundswell on the 3rd is exactly what it wants. Just be prepared for a few more people in the water, as it can get crowded when the waves are good.

So, the long and short of it is: the next nine days are a skip. Then a small, clean window on the 1st. But your real target is the 3rd of September. That’s the one. Be there.

Rusty out.

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