Tairua Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a slow burn for Tairua Beach. We’ve got a long dry spell coming up, so don’t be in a rush. The first real chance of a wave doesn’t roll in until Thursday the 30th of July, so that’s over a week of mostly flat, small, or blown-out conditions. It’s a tough stretch, but things do eventually turn around.

The opening week is a write-off. Monday the 20th has tiny 1ft waves from the ESE with a cross-on wind, and it’s just messy. Tuesday the 21st is cleaner – Tuesday morning goes glassy with a cross-off breeze, but the swell is a weak 2ft to 3ft and the period is a shocker at 5 seconds. That’s pure wind chop, not worth paddling for. Wednesday and Thursday are even smaller, with 1ft waves. The combined energy never gets above 47 (weak), so it’s a total flat spell. Friday the 24th sees a tiny bump, but the wind is messy and cross-shore, so no go.

Saturday the 25th of July is a tease. The morning has 3ft of ESE swell with a 11-second period and a moderate cross-off wind, and the combined energy is a moderate 217. It’s clean, but the swell is still small. By Sunday the 26th, the wind picks up hard – 28 mph offshore on Sunday morning. That’s strong offshore and clean, but with only 2ft of swell, it’s a nightmare to paddle into. Not for the faint-hearted.

The real window opens on Thursday the 30th of July. Thursday morning is the standout of the whole outlook. We’ve got 3ft of E swell with a solid 12-second period, combined energy of 277 (moderate), and a light cross-off wind from the west. It’s clean, glassy, and the Tairua Beach setup, being a fairly exposed beach, should handle this nicely. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. This is the one to aim for if you’re a beginner – the swell is small, the conditions are tidy, and crowds are possible, so get in early.

Thursday afternoon on the 30th gets a lot bigger, but it’s a different beast. The swell jumps to 7ft from the north with a short 7-second period, and combined energy surges to 592 (strong). That’s too big for beginners and only for the experienced crew. The wind stays light, but that short period and big close-out potential make it more of a challenge than a pleasure.

Friday the 31st of July is a mess – 6ft to 6ft from the NNW but with a moderate cross-shore wind and chop. Not worth it. Saturday the 1st of August is better: 5ft to 6ft from the NNW with an 8-second period, and a gentle offshore breeze in the afternoon. Combined energy is moderate (342-373), and it’s clean. That’s a solid day for intermediate surfers, but the swell is pushing into the too-big-for-beginners range.

After that, Sunday the 2nd of August drops off to 4ft, and by Monday the 3rd, we’re back to tiny 1ft flatness. The second week fizzles out.

So, bottom line: the best on offer is Thursday the 30th of July morning. Small, clean, and glassy. If you want a bit more size, Saturday the 1st of August afternoon is your next best bet. Everything else is a waiting game.

Rusty

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