Port Waikato-Sunset beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right off the bat, the ocean is looking a bit wild out at Port Waikato-Sunset beach. We’ve got a solid SW groundswell pushing in, but it’s too much of a good thing right now. The water temp is sitting around 57°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, nothing weird there.

The action kicks off proper on Sunday the 16th. That morning it’s a bit junky with a cross-shore breeze and 8ft of swell, but it’s the afternoon that has my attention. The wind swings offshore from the southeast at 15 mph and the swell jumps to a solid 10ft from the southwest. The energy is strong, reading 4705, but honestly, that’s pushing it for most punters. This is expert territory only. It’s clean and firing, but you need to know what you’re doing.

Monday the 17th keeps the size coming, with 12ft in the morning from the southwest at 15 seconds. That’s powerful, but the offshore wind keeps it looking sharp. Again, big and beefy, not for the faint-hearted. The afternoon sees the wind go a bit cross-shore with 10ft, still hefty. The energy numbers are huge. It’s a proper west-coast thumper.

By Tuesday the 18th, it backs off a touch. The morning has a cleaner 7ft with a cross-offshore breeze, but the energy drops way down to 1559. It’s surfable, but the magic is gone. The afternoon is smaller and messier.

We’ve got a bit of a lull through to the 20th, with the swell hanging around 7ft and the winds playing games. But Thursday the 20th morning is the standout – glassy conditions with a light southeast breeze and a clean 7ft from the west-southwest. It’s not huge, but it’s got a nice 14-second period and the ocean will be smooth as silk. That’s your window for a proper session without getting thumped.

The end of the week gets a bit ordinary, with smaller swells and more onshore winds. The 22nd has a short-period windswell in the arvo, not worth the drive.

Now for the long range. Sunday the 23rd sees a building trend again, with the swell picking up to 8ft in the morning and then jumping to a solid 10ft by the afternoon. That’s another big one with onshore winds, so it’s going to be a mess. The energy is moderate, but the wind kills it. Probably more interesting for the kites out there than the surfers.

There’s another pulse of solid size coming through on the 25th, with 12ft from the southwest. But it’s lumpy and cross-onshore in the morning, cleaning up a bit in the afternoon. Still, it’s a lot of water moving around.

Things finally start settling down for the final stretch. The 29th and 30th look like the pick of the second week. Saturday the 29th has offshore winds and a clean 7ft in the morning from the west, and then the arvo drops to a beautiful 5ft with a gentle offshore breeze. Sunday the 30th is similar – clean, offshore winds, and a nice 5ft from the west-southwest. This is the reward after all that chaos. The energy is moderate, but the conditions will be prime. That’s the one to circle on the calendar, but remember it’s a week and a half out, so treat it as promising rather than locked in.

Rusty

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