Takapuna-North Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with ya – this 16-day outlook for Takapuna-North Reef is a pretty grim one. We’re looking at a long, flat stretch ahead with hardly a bump to get excited about. The first real sign of life doesn’t arrive until Tuesday the 1st of September, and even then it’s tiny. There’s a big gap from now through to the end of August with next to nothing – a proper dry spell.

The Surf Window (such as it is)

Alright, let’s break down what little we’ve got. The only faint pulse of energy shows up on Tuesday, the 1st of September, with a bit more on Wednesday the 2nd. It ain’t gonna light the world on fire, but it’s something.

For Tuesday morning, we’re looking at a tiny 0.5ft (0.2m) swell out of the NE, with a period of 5 seconds – that’s short period wind swell, no power. The combined swell energy is weak at just 21. Winds are glassy from the ENE, so the surface will be clean and smooth. For a beginner-level spot that’s inconsistent, this is about as good as it gets, but don’t expect much push. The water’s sitting at 57°F, which is about average for this time of year (anomaly of -0.7°F), so nothing unusual.

Tuesday afternoon stays tiny at 0.5ft (0.2m) from the NE, with the period lifting a bit to 10 seconds – slightly better shape, but still only 50 units of combined energy. The wind turns light cross-onshore from the ENE, so you’ll get a few ripples on the surface. It’s not going to be a classic session, but for a sheltered reef that rarely sees much, it’s a chance to get wet.

Wednesday the 2nd of September sees a small bump – morning has 3ft (0.8m) from the NNE, but with a short period of just 4 seconds, so it’ll be weak and messy. The combined energy is only 19, and we’ve got a fresh 19 mph (30 km/h) onshore wind from the E. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – the wind’s too strong for the tiny swell to be any fun on a surfboard.

Wednesday afternoon cleans up a bit – 3ft (0.8m) still from the NNE, with a 4-second period, but the wind shifts to a 9 mph (15 km/h) cross-offshore from the NNW, leaving the surface clean. Combined energy is 19 again, so it’s still weak. For a spot that’s inconsistent and sheltered, this is your best bet across the whole outlook, but it’s a far cry from pumping.

The Long Flat

The rest of the period from now until the end of August is a write-off. Days and days of zero swell, or tiny 0.3ft – 0.7ft lines with no energy. There’s a stretch from the 18th to the 31st where every record says “poor surf conditions.” Even the Saturday the 30th of August gives us glassy conditions with 0.7ft (0.2m) from the N, but no real energy. It’s one of those blank runs that’s more normal for this sheltered area, so don’t beat yourself up – forecasts can change.

Summary

If you’re desperate, Tuesday the 1st of September morning with flat-calm winds and a clean 0.5ft NE swell at Takapuna-North Reef is the standout, but it’s barely a ripple. The crowd factor here is “sometimes” – on a day like this, you’ll probably have it to yourself, which is one positive. Don't expect any real waves; keep the expectations low and enjoy the paddle.

Rusty.

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