Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Tawharanui's got lined up for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s a pretty grim start. We’re looking at a long, flat spell. The first week and a bit is basically a write-off, with nothing worth getting wet for. The swell is tiny, the wind is mostly messy, and the energy is weak – we're seeing combined energy values mostly down in the dumps, like 75 and lower for days on end. It’s a real bummer.

The first glimmer of anything surfable doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning the 8th of July. Even then, it's just a tiny 2ft east swell with a short 7-second period, and the combined energy is a paltry 63. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but you’ll be searching hard for a ride. That’s more of a paddle than a surf.

We get a tease on Thursday the 16th of July. The swell bumps up to 2ft from the east with a longer 12-second period (groundswell), and the energy gets up to 171. The problem? A strong offshore breeze of 25 to 28 mph. It’ll be clean, sure, but that wind is going to make paddling out a full-on battle. Better to sit that one out.

Now, for the real news. The only time this forecast gets any blood pumping is the final weekend. Friday the 17th of July is where it starts to turn. A new 4ft north swell rolls in, though the period is a short 6 seconds. It’s a bit of a junky swell, but the offshore wind will keep it clean. The combined energy hits 193.

But the standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is Saturday the 18th of July. We’ve got a proper pulse of swell: 10ft to 13ft from the north with an 8 to 9-second period. The combined energy is absolutely pumping at 1374, jumping to 2387 in the afternoon. For Tawharanui (New Zealand), this is a big one. This is expert territory. If you’re not a solid surfer, stay on the beach. The wind is a clean cross-off, which is a major positive for this beach and reef setup. Just keep in mind, a north swell of this size will be powerful and the long period will make it suck hard, producing some thick, heavy walls. This is the best on offer, no question, and it’s a true standout in an otherwise flat outlook.

So, to sum it up: a whole lot of nothing for nearly two weeks, then a serious dose of clean, powerful north swell for the experts on the 18th. Get your big-wave board ready.

Rusty.

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