Tairua Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s see what we’ve got on the radar for Tairua Bar.

We’re starting off with a bit of a slow burner. There’s a small window of surf right now, Friday the 31st of July, with a 4ft to 5ft NNW swell wrapping in, but the period is a short 7 seconds. The wind is offshore and clean, so it’ll be ridable, but don’t expect much push. The combined swell energy is moderate (292-409). The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

But after that, we hit a long, dry spell. From Saturday the 1st of August all the way through to Friday the 7th of August, it’s mostly flat or junk. Swell heights drop to 0.7ft to 3ft, and the wind is all over the place – cross, cross-on, or onshore. The period stays short or mixed up. There’s nothing worth paddling out for. This is an 8-day stretch with no real recommendations.

Then, things get interesting. Early on Saturday the 8th of August, we see a jump to 6ft NNE swell, period 7 seconds, and the wind goes glassy. That’s a rare treat. The combined energy (389) is solid, but the period is short, so it’ll be a bit dumpy. Still, glassy conditions at Tairua Bar are a standout.

Sunday the 9th of August gets messy – a 10ft to 12ft NE swell hits, but with a nasty 19-22 mph cross-on wind, it’ll be lumpy and borderline unsurfable. That setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th of August are a whole different beast – swell size blows up to 15ft to 16ft from the NE and ENE, with a long period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is massive, reaching 10384 on Monday afternoon. This is expert-only territory. The wind turns offshore or clean, but the size is just too big for Tairua Bar unless you’re a seasoned charger. Definitely not for beginners.

The best of the lot? Wednesday the 12th of August. Morning brings 8ft ENE swell with a solid 11-second period, light cross-off wind, and it cleans up nicely. The combined energy is 1700. By afternoon, it goes glassy with a WNW breeze. That’s the highlight. It’s solid, clean, and right at the edge of what’s doable for strong intermediates. Expect it to be a bit powerful, with longer gaps between sets.

After that, from Thursday the 13th through Saturday the 15th, the swell drops and the wind turns onshore again. The waves get chopped up, and it fades back to poor conditions.

So, if you’re keen, hit the glassy window on the 8th for fun small waves, but the real gold is Wednesday the 12th – that’s the day to mark on the calendar. Just remember, it’s a couple weeks out, so treat it as promising but not locked in.

Rusty.

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