Takapuna-North Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Takapuna-North Reef.

Right out of the gate, I gotta be straight with you – the outlook for the next sixteen days is about as flat as a millpond. There’s a huge gap right at the start. From now until around the end of July, and well into the first week of August, we’re looking at tiny waves that just won’t break. The water’s sitting at 57°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a hood if you’re planning a paddle.

The first real suggestion for a paddle doesn’t come until Thursday, July 30th in the afternoon. Even then, it’s only 3 ft from the north, but the period is a short, weak 4 seconds – that’s windswell, not groundswell. Combined swell energy is only 27 (weak), so don’t expect much push. The wind is from the north at 10 mph, which puts it straight side-on, making for a slight cross-chop. Not a standout.

Friday, July 31st, cleans up nicely with a 12 mph offshore from the west. Swell drops to 2 ft in the morning and just 1.0 ft in the afternoon, both from the north. The period climbs to 7 seconds, but the combined energy is still low (31 morning, 17 afternoon). It’ll be clean and glassy-looking, but there’s barely any wave to ride. This is a beginner-friendly spot anyway, but with size that small, you’re barely getting wet.

After that, we hit another long, dry spell. From Saturday, August 1st, right through to Thursday, August 7th, the swell is stuck at 0.3 ft or 1 ft. The winds are okay – some glassy mornings on August 4th and 5th – but there’s nothing to surf. The break rarely holds any size, and this forecast proves it.

The only time things look like they might be worth a second look is right at the tail end. On Friday, August 7th and Saturday, August 8th, we see a little pulse arrive. Friday afternoon sees 4 ft from the north-northeast, with a period of 6 seconds and combined energy of 69 (still moderate). But the wind is onshore from the east-northeast at 10 mph, so it’s going to be a bit choppy. Saturday is similar, with 3 ft from the north in the afternoon, but the wind picks up to 12 mph from the northeast – again onshore and bumpy.

The closest we get to a decent session is Tuesday, August 11th. Late in the window, the wind finally swings offshore from the west-southwest at 6 mph in the morning, and from the west at 10 mph in the afternoon. Swell sits around 2 ft from the north-northeast, with a period of 8 to 9 seconds, and combined energy reaches 48 to 55. That’s the cleanest, most rideable it gets. Still small, but offshore and clean. Not a true standout by size, but the best of a very flat bunch.

If you’re a beginner looking for a gentle, clean paddle in tiny waves, that Tuesday afternoon on August 11th is your window. For anyone hungry for real swell, this whole stretch is a dud. Honestly, given the near-constant onshore wind and tiny size, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer on those August 7th and 8th days.

Stay patient. It won’t stay this poor forever.

- Rusty

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