Port Waikato-Sunset beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, clocking in from the West Coast. Let's break down what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Port Waikato-Sunset Beach.

Right off the bat, we've got a bit of a slow start, but don't you worry. The coming days are all about one thing: size. This place is an exposed SW magnet, and the Pacific is about to light it up. The water temp is sitting right about average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there – just standard winter gear.

Okay, Sunday the 5th is a write-off. We're looking at a weak, chopped-out 7ft from the WNW with short 10-second period, and a cross-onshore breeze. The energy's up there (1251), but it's a mess. Monday the 6th is where it gets real, but not in a good way for most of us. We get a massive jump to 15ft from the NW. That's a ton of power (5691 energy) but at over 8ft, that's expert-only territory. It's going to be a washing machine for the average punter.

Now, listen up. The standout window starts shaping up Tuesday the 7th. For you experienced crew, the morning is looking special. A crisp 10ft swell from the WSW with a long 15-second period, and the wind goes pure offshore from the ESE at 12 mph. The energy is solid (3728). It'll be a bit big, but clean, powerful, and that long period will be lining up beautifully on the banks. For the afternoon, it drops a touch to 8ft, still with that clean offshore flow. If you're an intermediate, the Thursday morning the 9th is your golden ticket. It's only 8ft from the SW, but the wind goes glassy – dead calm. That's a rare treat. The energy is moderate (2059), the period is a punchy 11 seconds, and it's going to be as smooth as silk. That is the call for the quieter surfer.

The rest of the first week is a tale of "almost." Wednesday the 8th has clean conditions but a bit of wind. Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th see the size drop, but the winds get a bit messy again.

Moving into the second week, the pattern holds. Sunday the 12th morning is another glassy gem – 6ft from the SW with a long 16-second period. It's beautiful, but at that size and period, the tide might be a factor for the bank. Monday the 13th is glassy too with a smaller 5ft swell – good for a cruise. Then, hold onto your board. From Tuesday the 14th onwards, we get absolutely thumped. We're talking 12ft to 20ft swells with energy readings going through the roof (over 5000). But the wind turns to strong cross and cross-onshore. That is not surf; that's a kiteboarding frenzy. The setup looks far more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, plain and simple.

By the time we get to Sunday the 19th, the size starts to back off to 10ft, but it's still a lumpy mess. Finally, on Monday the 20th, we get a reprieve – a clean 7ft from the WSW with a light offshore breeze. A good one to end on.

Bottom line: True standouts are Tuesday the 7th morning for the experienced big-wave chargers, and Thursday the 9th morning for the intermediate crew wanting glassy perfection. The second week is dominated by massive, windy swell that's not for the faint of heart.

Rusty.

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