Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Tawharanui.

Honestly, mate, this 16-day stretch is a real struggle. We’ve got a long, flat, wind-affected run staring us in the face, and the few moments where the ocean shows a pulse are let down by messy conditions or just not enough size. The good news is the water temp is sitting about average for this time of year at 57°, so at least it’s not freezing you out while you’re waiting.

The opening week is a write-off. From Thursday the 20th all the way through to Wednesday the 26th, the swell is tiny – mostly 0.3ft to 1ft – and while there are some glassy moments on Wednesday afternoon, there’s just no energy. You’d be scratching for a knee-high ripple. A couple of days with cross-off winds keep it clean, but it’s barely surfable.

Thursday the 27th sees a bit more activity, but that comes with onshore wind and short period windswell. It’s messy and not worth the paddle. Then Friday the 28th – here’s the only real size event, but it’s a cruel joke. The swell jumps to 7ft from the north with a short, weak period of 7 seconds, and the wind is a strong cross-onshore blowing at 18 to 25 mph. That’s a powerful, lumpy, messy closeout. Combined swell energy hits 483 for a time, so there’s plenty of water moving, but for a paddle surfer? It’s a washing machine. This setup looks much more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Definitely for experienced crew only, if anyone is game.

After that, it settles back down. From Saturday the 29th of August through to the end of the window on Friday the 4th of September, we’re back to tiny waves and light to moderate winds. There’s a tiny glimmer on Wednesday the 2nd of September afternoon – a 6ft north swell rolls in with a clean offshore wind (SW at 22 mph), but the period is only 6 seconds and the score is marginal. It’s a short, choppy, on-the-bump session for the desperate. Thursday the 3rd of September offers a 4ft north swell (period 8 seconds) with light winds, making for surfable waves but very ordinary conditions. It’s not a standout by any stretch.

The best on offer in this whole period – and I’m using the term loosely – is that Thursday the 3rd of September morning. A 4ft north swell with clean conditions and light winds. It’s small, but at least you won’t be getting thrashed. For the rest, it’s a long wait and a whole lot of nothing.

Rusty.

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