Tairua Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, listen up. Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Tairua Bar’s got cookin’ for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s looking pretty grim for a while.

We’re in for a long, quiet spell. For over a week, from Friday the 10th right through to Sunday the 19th, there’s barely a ripple worth paddling for. The swell heights are tiny, mostly hanging around 1 ft to 4 ft, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, keeping things choppy and messy. The wave energy is weak, with numbers mostly in the double digits (215 on Friday afternoon, dropping to 25-92 for days after). There’s a moment on Tuesday the 14th afternoon where a little 4 ft pulse shows up from the N with a short period of 6 seconds, and the wind goes cross-off NW, cleaning it up. That’s surfable, but it’s not going to get the heart racing. Very ordinary.

The water temp is sitting at a pretty standard 60°F for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Then, around Friday the 17th into Saturday the 18th, we get a slight flicker of hope. On the Friday afternoon, a 2 ft swell from the E with a very long period of 15 seconds rolls in, carrying 120 energy – that’s moderate. The wind is cross-off from the SW, so the conditions will be clean. The problem is, it’s barely a foot and a half. For a long-period groundswell like that, you’d want a point or reef to really make it sing. At a bar setup like Tairua, a long period can mean the waves break a bit straight. It's not a standout, just a hint of life.

The absolute best we’ve got in this entire 16-day window? You’re gonna have to dig deep on Tuesday the 21st of July. Tuesday morning, the wind drops to a cross-off SW breeze at 6 mph, and the water could go glassy. The swell is still tiny at 0.7 ft from the E, but the period stretches out to 12 seconds, showing some distant energy. The energy reading is only 20, so it’s feeble. But by Tuesday afternoon, the wind turns even lighter, swinging slightly WSW at a whispery 3 mph, with a slight air. The swell picks up a touch to 2 ft from the SE, period crashes to 4 seconds, but with clean conditions, it’ll be the most fun you can have on a board this fortnight. Don’t expect any power – it’s a small-wave grovel session for sure.

After that, the last few days offer more of the same: tiny swell, low energy, though the wind stays mostly manageable. The 24th and 25th bring some onshore and cross-onshore flows, which won't help. Honestly, the whole run is a wash for anyone wanting decent surf. It’s a blank period where you’d be better off tuning your board or checking the forecast again in a week. Keep the faith, but don't hold your breath.

Rusty.

Read more