Port Waikato-Sunset beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, this time for the lads workin' in feet and knots.

We’ve got some serious muscle heading into Port Waikato-Sunset Beach (New Zealand) over the next week or so. It’s not a gentle start; we’re looking at a serious pulse of south-west groundswell that’s going to pack a punch. The water temp is around 59°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so don't expect any surprises there.

The real story kicks off on Wednesday the 8th with a solid 6 ft swell from the SW, clean with a light cross-off breeze. The energy is pumping at 1392, so there’s plenty of grunt. But honestly, the standout window is Thursday the 9th. We’re talking a thumping 13 ft SW swell that morning. That’s a boatload of water with serious energy (9249). Even though the wind is a bit punchy from the south at 15-18 mph, it's cross-off, keeping it reasonably clean. But let's be real – 13 ft is expert territory only. This isn't a day for the faint-hearted or the foam-board crew.

Friday the 10th backs it off slightly to a still-chunky 8 ft from the SW, with a gentle south wind keeping things tidy. The period is a long 14 seconds, so the sets will have real weight. The 17-second period on Friday afternoon is a stunner for wave shape, though the cross-shore wind might put a few ripples on the face. That wind is light though, so you could score.

Into Saturday the 11th, the size drops back to a more manageable 6 ft from the SW, and we get a beautiful light offshore from the east in the morning. That’s clean, lined-up surf. Saturday afternoon looks glassy with a whisper of a cross-off. Sunday the 12th holds similar 6-6 ft WSW swell, and that Sunday afternoon is calling my name – glassy conditions with a 6 ft swell and 15-second period. That’s the kind of session where you don’t want to paddle in.

Monday the 13th sees the energy fade to a lighter 4 ft, still clean but dropping off. After that, there’s a messy patch from Monday afternoon through to Tuesday the 14th with onshore wind and a short, weak period. A few ok-looking pulses come back around Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th, with the 16th offering a gunna-be-good morning with 8 ft WSW swell and light ENE wind. That Thursday afternoon is dead flat calm – glassy as a lake with 8 ft swell. Again, expert territory on the bigger days.

From around the 17th, the swell tapers off towards the end of the window. By the 21st, we’re down to dribbly 2 ft to 2 ft with strong onshore winds. The last few days of the forecast show weak, small waves that aren't worth getting out of bed for. It fades right out.

If you want the best of it, your standouts are Thursday the 9th for the big-wave crew (13 ft, SW, steep drop) and Saturday the 11th through Sunday the 12th for the rest of us – clean, solid 6 ft to 6 ft SW/WSW swell with offshore or glassy winds.

Rusty.

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