Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer at Tawharanui over the next few weeks.

Honestly, if you’re looking to get wet, you’re going to have to be patient. The forecast is a real mixed bag, and honestly, for the first seven days, there’s nothing I’d call a proper surf. The water temp is sitting at 58°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won’t be any colder than usual.

The first sniff of something that isn’t total flatness comes on the morning of Friday, 31 July. The swell pushes up to 4ft from the north, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s going to be weak and crumbly. The combined energy is only 164, so it’s not even moderate. The wind is cross-off at 16 mph, which keeps it clean, but the wave quality is poor. It’s not a goer.

Then we get a long, flat spell. From Saturday, 1 August right through to Wednesday, 6 August, it’s tiny. Swell heights are a measly 0.3ft, with a bit of a long-period groundswell energy (16 seconds) but no height to back it up. The energy is teeny, in the low teens. You’d be better off with a paddleboard or a coffee.

The next real chance appears on Friday, 7 August. The morning sees a 5ft north swell, but the period is only 6 seconds, so it’s windswell. The combined energy climbs to 198 (moderate), but unfortunately, the wind is onshore from the northeast at 12 mph. That’s going to be a mess. It’s still classed as poor surf conditions. This one is a bit too big for the beginners, and with the onshore wind, it’s only for the truly dedicated.

The standout window, if you can call it that, is the morning of Tuesday, 11 August. We get a 4ft swell from the north-northeast, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is 181 (moderate), and the wind is a clean cross-off from the west-southwest at 9 mph. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions”, which is the best we’ve seen. The wind will keep it clean, and the swell direction is a solid match for the optimum northeast direction. This is the pick of the bunch, but it’s still only a 4ft, and it’s a beach-and-reef setup, so it’s not going to hold a huge amount of power. Score it as a “maybe” for a surf.

After that, the swell drops back down again through the rest of the second week. There’s a pulse of 8ft from the north-northeast on the afternoon of Saturday, 8 August, but with 16 mph onshore wind and a combined energy of 569 (strong), it’s going to be a washing machine. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, with the onshore wind, it’s more of a wipeout than a wave. That setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

So, to sum it up: the next two weeks are mostly a write-off. The best chance for a surf is the morning of Tuesday, 11 August, with clean, small surf. If you’re desperate, you could chance Friday, 7 August, but it’ll be messy. Otherwise, it’s a long wait. Tawharanui is a fairly consistent spot, but this run is a total dud.

Rusty.

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