Tairua Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Tairua Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with ya – it’s a pretty bleak start. We’re looking at a long, quiet spell that runs from Monday the 17th of August all the way through to the end of the week. There’s just nothing doing. The waves are tiny, the energy is weak, and it’s not worth paddling out. You’ll see a bit of chop and some cross-off winds, but trust me, leave the board in the shed. This is a classic blank run for the area, and it’s pretty normal around here when the conditions line up like this. Forecasts can change, so don’t lose hope, but right now it’s a no-go.

Now, we finally get a little tease on Monday the 24th of August. The morning shows a bump of 4 ft from the NNW, but the period is short at 6 seconds, and the combined energy is only 115 (moderate). The winds go glassy though, which is a massive positive for clean conditions. It’s surfable, and the glassy surface is a real treat, but the waves themselves won’t be anything special. It’s a beginner-friendly size though, so if you’re just keen for a splash, you could have a go.

The real standout doesn’t show up until way down the line – Friday the 28th of August morning. Finally, some power. We get a 7 ft swell out of the ENE with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy jumps up to 616 (strong). The wind is glassy – dead calm. That’s a recipe for clean, punchy waves. Tairua Beach is fairly exposed and handles the NE direction well. This is the pick of the week, no question. Keep in mind, 7 ft is getting a bit meaty for beginners, but it’s fine for anyone with a bit of experience. It’s expected to be good surf conditions, and with crowds being just ‘sometimes’, you might get a few empty peaks. I’d be circling this date on the calendar.

Then, on Saturday the 29th of August morning, things get serious. A big 10 ft swell from the E, with a long 12-second period and a massive combined energy of 3508 (very strong). That is a serious groundswell. The wind is glassy again. This is excellent surf, but let’s be real – 10 ft is expert territory only. For the experienced crew, this could be a session to remember. The afternoon eases to 8 ft, still with clean cross-off winds. The long period means the waves will have plenty of power and shape, but at Tairua Beach, that long period can make it break a bit straight. Still, for the top dogs, this is the highlight of the entire outlook.

The next couple of days hang around with smaller, cleaner swell in the 4 ft to 5 ft range, with good offshore winds on the Sunday the 30th of August. That morning has a fresh 19 mph offshore from the SW, which will groom the 5 ft E swell into nice lines. The energy is solid at 581 (strong). It’s not the epic of the 29th, but it’s a damn good, manageable day for a solid session.

And that’s about it. The first week is a write-off, but the second week has two absolute gems – the 28th for the glassy medium swell, and the 29th for the big, powerful groundswell for the experts. Get out there if you can.

Rusty.

Read more