Port Waikato-Sunset beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Port Waikato-Sunset Beach has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, this is a tricky outlook. The first solid window of surfable waves is a long way off, and for the first several days, the ocean is going to be a mess. We’re looking at a big gap with no real recommendations until late in the first week of September. The water is sitting at 57° right now, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The main issue for the next week is a series of hefty, powerful swells that are simply too big for this spot. From Monday the 24th of August, we’ve got a big 13ft WSW groundswell rolling in with a period of 15 seconds and a massive combined energy of 6474. The wind is a messy cross-onshore, so it’s big, raw, and ugly. That pattern sticks around for days. Tuesday the 25th sees 10ft, Wednesday the 26th has 8ft, and it’s all cross-onshore or choppy. This isn’t a paddle-out; this is a hold-your-ground situation. Even when the swell drops a little towards the end of the week, the wind stays onshore, keeping conditions poor. Friday the 28th drops to 5ft, but with a short 10-second period and messy wind, it’s just not worth it. Honestly, for the next week or so, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

There is a glimmer, though. A real stand-out window opens up on the 1st of September. On Tuesday the 1st of September, we get a much-improved situation. The swell drops to a more manageable 10ft from the WSW, period hanging at 14 seconds, and the wind goes light onshore in the morning, then turns offshore in the afternoon. The combined energy is still strong at 3978, but the wind and tide are finally favoring us. This is the first real chance for a wave, but it’s still big and heavy, so only for the experienced crew.

Then, forget the rest, the absolute standout is Friday the 4th of September. Thursday the 3rd is still a bit messy, but Friday morning shows a 10ft WNW groundswell, a short 9-second period, but the wind is a light cross-offshore, making it clean. But the absolute winner is Friday afternoon. We are looking at 15ft of swell from the west with an 11-second period, and the wind goes dead glassy. The combined energy is a whopping 5325. That’s a huge, clean, powerful swell. It’ll be breaking big, but with that offshore glass, if you can handle the size, you will get the session of your life. It will be massive, so experts only.

Into the second week, Saturday the 5th of September keeps the clean cross-off wind but the swell drops to 13ft. Still big, still good. Things settle down finally by Sunday the 8th of September. Tuesday the 8th of September morning is the pick of this later run, with a 6ft WSW groundswell at a lovely 14-second period and light cross-off winds. The combined energy is moderate at 1641, and it's the first time the forecast says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers" rather than “too big.” This is a proper, clean, open ocean swell that will hold up well. It’s still a little on the bigger side for beginners, but for the experienced surfer, that’s your session.

So, the big picture: get through this week of dirty, oversized slop. The prize is the glassy giants on Friday the 4th of September, and a proper, clean swell on Tuesday the 8th. Mark your calendar.

Rusty.

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