Port Waikato-Sunset beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for us.

The ocean’s going to be a bit of a mixed bag for a while. We’ve got a pretty solid run of surf coming, but it’s not all going to be picture-perfect. The first few days are a bit rough, but there’s a real standout morning on the horizon that’s got my attention.

Port Waikato-Sunset Beach is our only game in town for this forecast. Right off the bat, Wednesday afternoon is a write-off with a messy 5ft SW swell and a bumpy 12 mph cross-wind. Not worth getting wet.

Thursday morning, the 23rd, is where things start to look up. It’s still early, so don’t get too excited, but we’ve got a clean 5ft SW swell with a very long 14-second period and a light 3 mph cross-offshore breeze from the NE. The water’s sitting at 58°, which is about average for this time of year. The wave energy is moderate (931), but the conditions are clean. This is a promising start.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are a total mess. Friday’s got a short-period, choppy 8ft NW swell, and Saturday sees a monster 15ft to 21ft WSW swell with 25 mph winds. That’s not surfing, that’s a survival situation. The energy readings are through the roof (3801 to 12580), but it’s a complete washout.

Now, Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are interesting. We’ve got a solid 11ft to 8ft WSW groundswell (15-second period) with clean conditions and light cross-offshore winds. The energy is very strong (5124 and 2240). But here’s the thing – that 11ft to 8ft range is getting big. Sunday’s 11ft and 10ft swell is too big for this break, and Monday morning’s 8ft is going to be for experienced surfers only. Monday morning is the pick of the early part of the week.

The real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is Wednesday morning, the 29th of July. We’ve got a 6ft WSW swell, with a 11-second period, and crucially, 0 mph winds – completely glassy. The conditions are described as "excellent" for experienced surfers. The wave energy is moderate (1103), but clean, glassy surf on a 6ft SW swell at Sunset Beach is a treat. The wind is from the NE, which is offshore here, so expect clean, lined-up waves. This is the best session on offer.

The run from Thursday the 30th through to the weekend gets messy again, with a big 16ft swell and strong onshore winds. Not your day.

The second week’s forecast is a bit more settled but still full of potential. Monday the 3rd of August morning is another cracker. A clean 7ft SW swell with a 10-second period and a light 3 mph offshore breeze from the south. The energy is moderate (1350), and conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a solid, reliable option.

Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th of August are also looking good. Wednesday morning has a 8ft SW swell with a light offshore breeze, and Wednesday afternoon is glassy again with a 7ft SW swell. Thursday morning has a clean 6ft SW swell. These are all very good, clean options for the second week.

Overall, the first week is a bit of a rollercoaster, but Wednesday the 29th is the absolute gem. The second week looks more consistent with several clean, surfable mornings. Keep an eye on the long-range calls for the 3rd, 5th, and 6th of August – they’re promising, but a bit less certain this far out.

That’s it from me. Get out there when it’s clean.

Rusty

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