Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking at Papa Tangaroa. This is a serious reef break, so only for the experienced crew. The water is sitting at 71°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, nothing weird there.

The outlook kicks off this Wednesday morning, the 8th of July, with a solid 6ft SSW swell and a strong 13-second period pushing in. The energy is cranking, with a reading of 1188, but a southerly wind is blowing straight onshore, making it a bit of a battle. The afternoon only gets a little better with a lighter cross-onshore breeze, but the surf is still a bit messy. Honestly, Wednesday is a write-off for a proper session.

We get a real treat on Thursday morning, the 9th. The swell drops to 4ft from the SW, still with that lovely 13-second period, but the wind goes completely glassy. That’s the good stuff—clean, smooth lines, total perfection for a more mellow but high-quality session. Afternoon sees a NNW wind pick up, but it’s cross-offshore, so the waves will be clean, just with a bit of texture.

Friday the 10th is a complete mess. The wind absolutely howls, gusting up to 34 mph from the NNW, and then a severe gale from the WSW in the afternoon. The surf is blown apart, no question about it. Saturday is no better, with a fresh cross-onshore wind and a lumpy 7ft S swell. Don’t bother.

Sunday the 12th is still poor, with cross-onshore winds and a choppy sea state. The swell is there but it’s not worth paddling out for.

Now, the standout. Monday the 13th of July is a real gem. The wind drops to dead calm, glassy conditions, and we get a 6ft SSE swell with a 12-second period. The energy is massive at 1409, and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best session on offer—clean, powerful, and long-period lines. The afternoon is also good, with a light offshore breeze from the NNW. Tuesday the 14th is still okay, with a fresh offshore wind, but the swell is a bit smaller, so it’s a secondary option.

After that, things get a bit wild. From Wednesday the 15th through to the 17th, the swell gets big, hitting 8ft to 10ft, but the wind is either cross or cross-onshore, and the period drops. It’s going to be lumpy, choppy, and not very user-friendly. This is more for the big-wave chargers or honestly, a better setup for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

We get a bit of a breather on the 18th, with a 5ft SW swell and a gentler breeze, but it’s still cross-onshore. The next real highlight is Sunday the 19th of July. The morning brings a moderate offshore wind from the NNW, with a 5ft WSW swell and a 12-second period. The energy is moderate at 712, but the clean offshore wind will make for some nice, organized waves.

The final week has a couple of promising spots. Tuesday the 21st of July sees a glassy afternoon, with a 7ft W swell and an 8-second period. The shorter period means it’s a bit less powerful, but the glassy surface will make it fun. Then Wednesday the 22nd of July is a proper standout for the second week. The morning has a gentle offshore wind, with a 8ft W swell and a 10-second period. The energy is strong at 1146, and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is a big, clean swell, so it’s one for the experts.

So, to sum it up: the absolute best is Monday the 13th of July with that glassy, long-period SSE swell. The second standout is Wednesday the 22nd of July for a big, clean W swell. Keep an eye on the glassy mornings, they’re your best bet.

Rusty.

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