Port Waikato-Sunset beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, looking at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming in, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. The first real window is kicking off Tuesday, July 7th, with a big, powerful, long-period west-southwest groundswell building in. The ocean is pumping with a combined energy of 3725, which is a lot of power. The thing is, this is a beast of a swell for Port Waikato-Sunset beach. With waves hitting 10 feet and a 15-second period, this is definitely in the “experts only” zone. The east-southeast wind is keeping it clean, but the sheer size will make it a challenge for anyone not charging. The water temp is sitting at 58°, pretty much bang on average for this time of year.

The standout for the whole period, though, is Saturday, July 12th. After a few days of solid, still big waves, it drops back a touch. Saturday morning sees a 6-foot west-southwest swell at 16 seconds, with a light easterly breeze. Then, Saturday afternoon, the wind goes totally glassy. That’s right, glassy. We’re looking at 6 feet clean, lined-up sets with no wind. It’s going to be the best combination of size and quality we’ll see. The energy is still moderate (1350), but the conditions will be on point. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is your session. Expect a few others out there, as it’s known to be “sometimes” crowded.

The early part of the following week, Monday July 13th and Tuesday July 14th, sees the swell drop right off, down to 5 feet and then 3 feet. The energy is weak, and the wind isn't helping. It’s going to be a bit of a lull for a couple of days.

Then, from Wednesday July 15th, the window gets messy. The wind switches to the west and northwest, blowing cross-onshore or onshore, and the rain kicks in. The swell picks up again, but it’s going to be a rough, choppy, and lumpy affair. By Thursday July 16th, we’re looking at 13-foot waves under a fresh cross-onshore breeze and a risk of storms. That’s not surfable, it’s a washing machine. This continues through to the weekend, with big, onshore, messy conditions. Honestly, the setup from the 15th onwards looks more interesting for kite surfing with that strong cross-off wind blowing over the huge swell, rather than paddle surfing.

Looking further out, the swell stays big right through the 18th and 19th of July, but the wind is still problematic. So, the smart money is on this Saturday, July 12th. That’s the one.

Rusty.

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