Port Waikato-Sunset beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks down at Port Waikato-Sunset Beach. Gotta be honest with ya, the start of this run is a bit of a write-off. Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are just plain ugly – strong winds, messy, and the swell is way too junky to even think about paddling out. That first bit of the weekend is a total no-go.

Now, Sunday the 26th is where things get interesting. We’ve got a solid 10ft to 12ft groundswell pumping in from the WSW, with a long period of 14 to 15 seconds. The catch is, that’s a lot of water moving – the combined energy is siting at 5445 (moderate to strong) – and it’s honestly too big for this spot. Unless you’re a real gun, it’s a pass. The wind does go offshore and glassy through the afternoon, which is a tease, but the size keeps it out of reach for most.

Monday the 27th morning is the first real standout. The swell drops to 8ft from the WSW, period at 13 seconds (still a nice long groundswell), and the wind is glassy. That’s clean surf. The energy is still strong (2211), so it’s got punch, but it’s right in the wheelhouse for experienced surfers. This is your best early bet. The glassy conditions are a major positive.

We then hit a flat spell through Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th, with swell dropping under 5ft and some cross-onshore wind messing it up. Not much to get excited about. Thursday the 30th sees a new pulse of long-period swell pop up, but the wind swings cross-onshore again, making it choppy. The energy is moderate to strong, but the quality just isn’t there.

Now, look ahead to Friday the 31st of July. Another big SW groundswell moves in, 12ft with a 15-second period. The combined energy is a hefty 5168. Early morning has clean, cross-off wind from the south, but again, it’s too big for this beach break. It’s a kitesurfer’s dream, not a paddle surfer’s. Same story for Saturday the 1st of August morning – 8ft, glassy, excellent for experts, but not for the average joe.

The middle of the first week of August is a bit of a mixed bag of onshore winds and messy conditions. Not worth rushing out for.

But hold on… Friday the 7th of August morning is another one to circle. We’ve got a 8ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period, clean cross-off wind from the SSW, and a combined energy of 3182 – strong and powerful. This is proper, clean, lined-up swell for the experienced crew. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no big surprises there.

And then Saturday the 8th of August morning wraps it up nicely. Another 8ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, glassy wind from the east. The energy is even higher at 3519. This is another top-tier session for the experts. Clean, glassy, and solid.

So, to sum it up: the best of the bunch are Monday the 27th of July morning, and then Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th of August mornings. Those are the windows where the stars align. The long-period swells are going to be breaking a bit straight on the beach, but with the good wind, you’ll find some proper gems. The rest of the time is a bit of a gamble or just too big. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but these are the ones to pencil in.

Rusty.

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