Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here with the rundown for Papa Tangaroa (Tanga-Roa). This is a reef break, open to the south swell, and it’s a spot for the advanced crew only. Water temp is running about 69°, which is right on the mark for this time of year, nothing wild.

The forecast kicks off with a solid push of SW groundswell, but the wind’s a buzzkill at first. Tuesday morning (1st September) brings a 12-ft SW swell with a 15-second period—that’s a long-period groundswell with serious grunt (combined energy 4759). Wind is 12 mph cross-shore, putting a chop on it, so it’s a bit rough. Tuesday afternoon drops to 10-ft, but the wind goes cross-onshore, and the report says poor—so we’re skipping it.

Wednesday morning (2nd) still has 8-ft SW swell, 14-second period, but the wind is straight onshore at 9 mph, and the score is low. Thursday and Friday keep the swell around 6-ft to 7-ft, but the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, making it marginal. The combined energy is in the moderate range (1287–1832), but the quality isn’t there.

Then things start to look up. Saturday morning (5th) has a 7-ft SW swell, 14-second period, with a light cross-shore breeze (6 mph). The energy is moderate (1762), and the wind is light enough to keep the surface from getting too messy. Sunday morning (6th) bumps to 8-ft with a 16-second period, combined energy jumping to 2881, and the wind is light cross-shore again. The sets will be bigger, the lulls longer, but that reef will hold its shape.

Now, the real standout. Monday morning (7th September) is the one to circle. The swell is 7-ft from the SW, 14-second period, combined energy solid at 1766. But the wind? Glassy. Dead flat, both morning and afternoon. The report calls it “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the session to be on—clean, powerful, and that reef will be handling it perfectly. The swell is over 5-ft, so it’s too big for beginners, but for the advanced crew, it’s a dream.

Tuesday (8th) gets strange. The swell drops to 6-ft, but the wind swings north-east at 19 mph, cross-off, keeping the face clean. The combined energy is down to 1294—still moderate—but the wind is strong, so getting out will be a chore. Wednesday (9th) brings a new W swell, 13-ft with a short 10-second period, combined energy 3187. That’s a ton of water, but the short period makes it lumpy and powerful. The wind is cross-off at 22 mph, so it’s clean but howling. This is expert-only, and honestly, the size and short period might make it more interesting for kite surfing than paddling.

Thursday through Saturday (10th–12th) keep a 10-ft SW swell rolling, with 12-second periods, combined energy in the 3000s, and moderate cross-off winds. Clean faces, but it’s still big and consistent. Sunday (13th) starts to fade, wind picks up onshore, and by Monday (14th) the swell is down to 6-ft with onshore wind, poor conditions.

After that, it’s a slow fade. Tuesday (15th) has a 4-ft SW swell, 16-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore, and the energy is low (1342). Wednesday (16th) is even smaller—3-ft, 13-second period, combined energy down to 484. Not worth the paddle.

So, the jackpot is Monday 7th September—glassy, solid 7-ft SW groundswell, that reef will be magic. Tuesday 8th is clean but windy, and the big W swell on Wednesday 9th is for the brave. The first week has a few windows, but the second week fizzles out.

Rusty.

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