Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, let’s get into it. We’re talking Papa Tangaroa, a proper reef slab that’s not for the faint-hearted. First few days have been a bit of a mess, but there’s a couple of moments that’ll make it worth your while.

Saturday the 11th is a bust. 8ft of SSW swell, but a 30 km/h cross-onshore wind has it all lumpy and ugly. The afternoon drops to 4ft, still cross and messy. Sunday’s the same story – cross-onshore, choppy, not worth the paddle.

Then Monday the 13th – that’s the one. Morning is glassy. Dead flat, light 5 km/h northerly, and the swell is a clean 5ft from the SSE, with a solid 11-second period. That’s 1204 combined energy, a good, powerful wave. Surf conditions are excellent for experienced surfers, and that’s exactly what this reef demands. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. This is the standout session. The afternoon stays clean with a gentle offshore, but the morning glass is where it’s at.

Tuesday the 14th is a drop-off: small 4ft stuff, cross-off, clean but weak. Wednesday the 15th is a no-go – 8ft from the west, but 30 km/h cross-shore, lumpy chop. Not for paddle surfing.

Thursday the 16th is interesting. The morning is a messy 8ft WSW, moderate cross-onshore, but the afternoon… the afternoon is clean. Light NW cross-off wind, 8ft WSW swell, 9-second period, and the energy is 1866. The conditions are excellent for experienced surfers, and that’s the call. It’s a bit short-period, but for a big fella it’ll be a handful. That’s the second standout.

The weekend after that is a bit naff again. Friday the 17th is lumpy and onshore. Saturday the 18th is marginal, light onshore, 5ft, 2 out of 10. The session on Tuesday the 21st afternoon is a genuine surprise: clean, cross-off, 4ft WSW swell with a 12-second period, energy at 689 – it’s only a “gentle breeze” and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions”. For a reef that’s exposed, that’s a sneaky little window.

The long-range stuff around the 24th and 25th looks big. Friday the 24th morning has a 10ft west swell, 45 km/h cross-off wind, but energy is 2579 – that’s strong. The wind is strong, but it’s clean. That’s for experts only, and only if you’re feeling brave. The afternoon is a near gale, forget it. Saturday the 25th is 8ft SW, 15-second period, energy 2221, but it’s cross-onshore and lumpy. Keep an eye on it, but don’t plan a trip around it.

So bottom line: Monday morning the 13th is your best bet – glassy, solid, and clean. Thursday afternoon the 16th is the second pick. The rest is a bit of a mixed bag, but those two are worth getting out of bed for.

Rusty.

Read more