Ohara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our little corner of the world. It’s a bit of a slow burner, but there’s a real gem hiding in the second week if you’ve got the patience.

The first proper surf we see is on Friday, July 17, but honestly, it’s nothing to write home about. Ohara is getting small 3 ft to 4 ft east-southeast swell with a short 8-second period, meaning weak, crumbly energy. The wind is a moderate breeze from the south, which is offshore, so the surface will be clean, but the wave quality is very ordinary. The combined energy is only 121, so it’s weak. The water’s sitting at 78°, which is bang on average for this time of year.

Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th are very similar – small E/ESE swell, 3 ft to 4 ft, with a light breeze holding it clean. Sunday morning actually looks the pick of the first week, with a 4 ft ESE swell and a light offshore breeze, giving a score of 2. The combined energy bumps up to 275, so there’s a bit more push, but it’s still a very small, inconsistent window. Ohara is listed as inconsistent, so don’t expect a wave every set.

From Monday the 20th through to Saturday the 25th, it’s a grim run. The wind swings onshore or cross-shore, and the swell drops right off. Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th see a long-period SE swell (16–18 seconds), but at only 1 ft to 2 ft, it’s barely a ripple, and the wind is messy. The combined energy is weak, around 94 to 146. This is a real gap – about five days of poor conditions.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The standout is Sunday, July 26. The afternoon session is the best of the entire 16-day run. A solid 5 ft swell from the SE with a 12-second period is pushing in, with a moderate offshore breeze from the SSW. The combined energy hits 676 – that’s moderate but solid – and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a quality option for intermediate surfers, but keep in mind Ohara is exposed and inconsistent, so you might have to wait for the sets. The water temp is still normal.

Monday, July 27, gets bigger but trickier. The morning sees a 7 ft SSE swell with a 12-second period, but the combined energy is a massive 1904, which is strong. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but the wave comment says “marginal surf forecast.” This is getting into expert territory – over 8 ft by the afternoon – so it’s only for the experienced crew. The period is 12 to 13 seconds, which is a solid groundswell, but at a beach break like Ohara, it might break a bit too straight.

Tuesday, July 28, morning is the real standout for experts. A 5 ft S swell with a 13-second period, combined energy of 1220, and a light offshore breeze from the south. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” The water is clean, and the wind is gentle offshore. This is the one to plan for – but again, Ohara is inconsistent, so patience is key.

After that, it gets messy again. Wednesday the 29th brings strong onshore wind and a drop in quality. Thursday the 30th has a steep 6-second period swell, which is short and choppy. Friday, July 31, sees a massive 10 ft SSW swell, but the comment says it’s too big for the break – definitely only for experts and even then, it’s pushing the limits.

The final window on Saturday, August 1, is a return to manageable 4 ft to 5 ft S swell, with clean cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is 297 to 610, so it’s moderate, and the wave comment says “expect good surf conditions.” It’s not a standout, but a solid end to the run.

So, the best on offer: Sunday, July 26 afternoon for the overall quality, and Tuesday, July 28 morning for the experienced surfers. Both are clean, but Ohara is inconsistent, so don’t be surprised if you’re sitting for a while.

Rusty.

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