Papa Tangaroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 27.17° S 109.38° W

Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 29 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Papa Tangaroa sea temperature is
20.8° C
0.6° 

Papa Tangaroa surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Papa Tangaroa surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 4,646 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Papa Tangaroa this week:

The surf forecast for Papa Tangaroa over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Papa Tangaroa in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (-06) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Thu 30th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 12s
Best Surf 9AM (Thu 30th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 12s
Most Powerful 9AM (Mon 3rd Aug)10ft (3.0m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papa Tangaroa over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Righto, let’s have a yarn about what’s on the cards for Papa Tangaroa. This is a serious reef setup, so you wanna be on your game. It’s fairly consistent and exposed to the south swell, so when the ocean’s feeling it, this place can go off. Water temp’s sitting at 69°, which is pretty average for this time of year, nothing wild.

First up, Wednesday the 29th is a write-off. You’ve got a moderate cross-onshore blowing at 12 mph and it’s choppy as. The combined swell energy is 1319 but the conditions are poor, so leave the board in the car.

Now Thursday morning the 30th is where it gets interesting. You’ve got clean surf with a light WNW cross-offshore breeze at just 6 mph. Swell’s 5 ft from the SW at a solid 12 seconds. It’s glassy, clean, and the combined energy is 1048. This is an excellent window for experienced surfers. Thursday arvo the wind picks up to 16 mph out of the NW, still cross-off but the energy drops a bit to 796 and the feeling goes marginal. The morning is the pick.

Friday the 31st brings bigger swell – 7 ft to 7 ft from the WSW, period dropping to 10 seconds. Wind is fresh cross-off at 19 to 22 mph. It’s clean but with that shorter period, it’s not quite as nice. Combined energy sits at 1015 to 1055, but the scores are marginal. It’s a step down.

Saturday the 1st of August continues the theme – 7 ft to 8 ft from the WSW, period 11 to 13 seconds, clean with a fresh cross-off. The arvo session hits a combined energy of 3762, which is strong, but again the scoring says marginal. It’s a lot of water moving, so not for beginners.

Sunday the 2nd of August morning is the true standout for the first week. You’ve got 6 ft from the SW at 12 seconds, a light cross-off from the west at only 6 mph, and the combined energy is 1821. It’s excellent surf for experienced surfers. Clean, lovely. The arvo gets a bit of cross-chop with light rain and a cross-shore breeze, so stick to the morning.

The outlook then goes downhill fast. From Monday the 3rd, you’ve got a big pulse – 10 ft from the SSW with a very long 16-second period, combined energy near 5000. But the wind is onshore and strong, up to 31 mph with near gale conditions on Monday arvo. It’s a mess. Tuesday the 4th through Sunday the 9th is a long stretch of poor surf – persistent fresh to strong cross-onshore winds, lumpy and messy conditions, swell heights from 4 ft to 12 ft but all windy and blown out. Not worth paddling out.

There’s a small window of possibility around Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th of August – 6 ft to 8 ft from the SW, periods 13 to 15 seconds, with moderate cross-shore winds. The combined energy is still strong (2109 to 2103) but the surf is only marginal. Then Wednesday the 12th morning stands out – clean offshore wind from the NNW at 19 mph, swell 8 ft from the SSW at 13 seconds, combined energy 1718. Scores it as marginal but the offshore wind is a big plus. That arvo the wind swings to a cross-onshore and the quality drops.

From Thursday the 13th onward, it’s back to poor conditions, small swell around 3 ft to 4 ft, and lumpy cross-onshore winds. A long blank run.

So for the standout window: Thursday 30th July morning. Clean, glassy, 5 ft SW groundswell, light offshore breeze. That’s the one you want.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Wed night, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 22°C on Sat night, min 15°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sun morning, near gales from the SSE by Mon morning).

Wed
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
4
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
2
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
WSW
13
1.4
SW
12
1.4
SW
12
1.4
SW
11
1.1
WSW
11
2.1
WSW
10
2.2
WSW
10
2.2
WSW
11
2.2
WSW
11
2.5
WSW
13
2
WSW
13
1.9
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.8
SW
14
3
SSW
16
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
15
2.3
SW
14
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SSE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
724
597
480
455
313
872
1040
1022
1142
1960
1279
993
694
1249
4646
4531
3170
2125
1850
2279
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
15
WSW
10
WNW
25
NW
30
WNW
30
WNW
35
NW
30
NW
30
WNW
30
WNW
25
WNW
10
W
20
W
35
ESE
25
S
50
SSE
45
SSE
35
SSE
35
SE
35
SE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
5:49PM0.46m
6:30AM0.70m
6:58PM0.45m
7:28AM0.66m
8:33PM0.46m
8:38AM0.63m
10:01PM0.50m
9:49AM0.61m
11:01PM0.57m
10:51AM0.60m
11:46PM0.64m
11:40AM0.60m
00:24AM0.72m
Low Tide
11:14PM0.29m
1:46PM0.33m
00:08AM0.33m
2:52PM0.32m
1:34AM0.37m
3:52PM0.31m
3:23AM0.37m
4:39PM0.29m
4:51AM0.35m
5:16PM0.26m
5:54AM0.30m
5:50PM0.22m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
light rain
heavy rain
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:58
7:58
7:58
7:56
7:56
7:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:47
6:47
6:49
6:49
6:50
6:50
6:51
 mm
1
3
30
6
4
2
1
Temp °C
19
19
18
19
19
21
21
20
20
21
22
21
20
18
18
16
18
18
17
17
Feels °C
16
16
17
16
15
17
17
17
17
17
19
21
18
14
16
7
10
11
10
9
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Papa Tangaroa Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Papa Tangaroa provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Papa Tangaroa can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Papa Tangaroa surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Papa Tangaroa) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Papa Tangaroa may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Are you planning a holiday in Easter Island? If you are looking for accommodation near Tanga Roa, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Easter Island, consider staying in Caleton which is 7 km (4 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Easter Island which is 11 km (7 miles) away

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