Wainui Beach - Stockroute Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for this stretch of coast.

The opening days are a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s a proper pulse of energy building for the second week, so don’t write the whole period off.

We start off on Thursday the 6th with a solid 7ft swell from the south, but a cross-off wind from the SSW at 12 mph is keeping things a touch messy. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. The combined energy is strong (1855), but the conditions are only marginal. A better bet is Friday the 7th morning. The wind swings around to a light offshore from the NW at 6 mph, cleaning up a 5ft SE swell. The energy is moderate (895), and the wave comment says it all – expect very good surf. That’s the pick of the early window. Saturday the 8th morning is similar with a 4ft SSE swell and offshore NW wind, but the swell is a bit smaller.

Come Sunday the 9th, the swell drops to 3ft, and while it’s clean, it’s just not doing much. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are small and glassy in the mornings, with swell around 2ft to 2ft, but the energy is weak (99 and 141). Wednesday the 12th through to Saturday the 15th is a flat spell – the swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and the winds are all over the place. Not worth paddling out for.

Then things get interesting. On Monday the 17th of August, a massive 15ft S swell arrives, but it’s too big for this break. The wind is cross-on, so it’s a write-off for surfing. Tuesday the 18th is even bigger, with 20ft swell from the south and strong cross-shore winds. The combined energy is enormous (14594), but this is only for the mad bastards or the kite crew. Wednesday the 19th has a 18ft S swell and a cross-off wind from the SW at 16 mph, but it’s still too big for a paddle. By Thursday the 20th, the swell drops to 12ft, but it’s still oversized for most.

The real standout is Friday the 21st of August. The swell eases to a manageable 7ft from the south, with a clean offshore wind from the WNW at 3 mph. The combined energy is still solid (1432), and the wave comment says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is the one to circle on the calendar – a proper groundswell with a 9-second period, so it’ll have some push. Just be aware that Wainui Beach (Stockroute) can get crowded sometimes, so expect a few locals out.

Overall, the first week is a slow grind, but the second week delivers a massive swell that’s mostly too big, then cleans up into a beauty on the 21st. For the experienced crew, that’s your window.

Rusty.

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