Port Waikato-The Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

The surf story starts on Wednesday the 19th, but it’s a bit of a messy opener. We’ve got a solid 8 ft SW swell (combined energy 1914) rolling in, but the wind is a cross-off at 16 mph and the tide is playing games, so it’s a marginal call. Wednesday afternoon stays on the average side with 8 ft SW swell and cross winds. The real spark doesn’t show until Thursday the 20th.

Thursday morning is the first standout. Port Waikato-The Reef sees a 7 ft SW groundswell, coming in at a long 14 seconds, with glassy conditions (3 mph from the SSE). The water temp is 58°, pretty normal for the time of year. This is a reef break that’s inconsistent, so when it lines up, you grab it. This morning session is clean and good for experienced surfers – but with that long period, it might run a bit straight on the beach, but on this reef it should shape up nicely. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

The rest of the week goes downhill. Friday through to Sunday the 23rd is a write-off. Onshore winds, building swell, and sloppy conditions. Sunday morning sees a rough 10 ft W swell (1926 combined energy) with a short 9-second period and strong winds – not one for the paddle crew, could be more interesting for kite surfing. That rough patch runs until Tuesday the 25th, with messy, onshore winds and average surf.

The end of the month offers a flicker. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st both have excellent morning windows. Sunday morning has a small but clean 4 ft SW groundswell with a very long 18-second period (combined energy 1566), glassy and light winds from the ENE. It’s classy, but with that period, think point break lines, not dumpy beach waves. Monday the 31st afternoon turns even better: 6 ft SW at 14 seconds, with a light offshore ESE breeze at 3 mph – clean as a whistle.

Then spring kicks in. On the 1st of September, a moderate offshore ESE wind at 16 mph combines with a 4 ft SW swell – not huge, but clean and fun for the experienced crew. But the big one lands on Wednesday the 2nd: a 10 ft SW swell with a short 9-second period (combined energy 1676), offshore ESE wind at 12 mph. This is solid, but over 8 ft, so it’s strictly for the pros. The real jewel is Thursday the 3rd: a 10 ft SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period, glassy conditions (3 mph from the east), and a combined energy of 4826. That’s the best on offer, full stop. Clean, powerful, and perfect for the reef. Just keep in mind it’s a 16-day call, so long-range and promising but not set in stone.

From there, the surf fades out with a combination of cross-onshore winds and smaller swell, leaving the window pretty quiet after the 3rd.

Rusty.

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