Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got on the cards for Papa Tangaroa over the next couple of weeks.

First up, this is a reef break, exposed to the south swell, and it’s a fairly consistent spot. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises in that department.

The opening weekend is a write-off, to be honest. Saturday afternoon has rain and a strong cross-offshore wind at 22 mph, with 5 ft swell from the SW, but the energy is moderate (512) and the conditions are just marginal. Sunday is even worse, with onshore wind and poor surf – a total non-starter.

Now, Monday morning on the 20th of July is where things start to get interesting. We’ve got a light offshore breeze from the NNE, 4 ft of swell from the WSW, and a solid 11-second period. The energy is moderate (637), and the call is for very good surf. This is a standout window for the more experienced crew – the reef will be handling that long-period groundswell beautifully, and the offshore wind will keep it clean as a whistle. The afternoon is also looking good with a clean 3 ft, but the wind picks up a touch.

Tuesday and Wednesday the 21st and 22nd see a serious jump in energy. The combined energy climbs to 1873 on Tuesday morning and then rockets to 4292 by Wednesday morning. That’s strong to very strong energy. Swell size hits 8 ft on Wednesday morning with a 19-second period – that’s proper groundswell – but the wind is cross-offshore from the WNW, which is okay but not perfect. By Wednesday afternoon, it’s 10 ft and cross-shore, getting a bit messy. This is expert-level territory, the size is getting big, and the long period means it’ll be breaking straight and fast on the reef. Not for the faint-hearted.

From Thursday the 23rd through to the end of the month, things get ugly. We’re looking at a solid run of cross-onshore and strong winds, with swell sizes from 12 ft up to a massive 18 ft on the 25th of July. The combined energy hits 13,560 – that’s very strong – but the wind is fresh cross-onshore and lumpy. It’s poor surf, plain and simple. Honestly, for a few days there, it looks more like a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

We get a bit of a reprieve on Sunday the 26th of July. The swell drops to 8 ft, the wind goes light cross-offshore from the NW, and the energy is back to moderate (1594). The rating is excellent for experienced surfers. That afternoon session is the best of the second week, with clean conditions and a proper SW groundswell. But it’s still a big wave for most.

The rest of the run into the first week of August is a mixed bag. There’s a gap of poor conditions from the 27th to the 31st, with strong offshore winds, cross-shore gales, and onshore slop. Then on the 2nd of August, Sunday morning and afternoon, we see a glimmer of hope. 8 ft swell from the SW with a 14-second period, and the wind swings cross-offshore from the ENE. The energy is strong (3177) and the call is for clean surf. It’s a long way off, so don’t lock it in, but that’s the one to keep an eye on for the end of the forecast.

So, the pick of the crop is clear: Monday morning, 20th of July at Papa Tangaroa. Light offshore, clean, 4 ft of good-quality WSW groundswell. That’s the session you want to be in the water for. The second week’s standout is the Sunday afternoon, 26th of July, but it’s a bigger, more powerful wave for experienced surfers only.

Rusty.

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