Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for us here. Tawharanui is our only spot on the card, a beach and reef setup that’s exposed to the north-east. The water’s sitting at 58°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The outlook starts with a bummer of a gap. The first few days are a write-off, mate. From Monday the 3rd all the way through to Friday the 7th of August, there’s just nothing doing. Tiny, weak swell, all under 1ft, with combined energy readings barely cracking 20. That’s a full five-day blank run, and it’s not worth paddling out for.

Things finally start to look a bit more interesting by Saturday the 8th, but it’s still a mess. The swell bumps up to 5ft from the NNW, with a short period of 5 seconds and combined energy of 136 (moderate). But the wind is a fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy and chopped. Not what you’d call fun. The next day, Sunday the 9th, cleans right up with glassy conditions in the afternoon, but the swell drops back to just 2ft. It’s pretty, but tiny.

The mid-week period gets nasty again. From Monday the 10th to Thursday the 13th, we’ve got strong onshore and cross-onshore winds, with swell up to 5ft but blown out and messy. The combined energy climbs into the 100-170 range, but it’s all wind-affected junk. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine.

Friday the 14th afternoon finally gives us a glimmer. The wind swings offshore from the SW, moderate at 12 mph, with a 2ft NE swell. The combined energy hits 109 (moderate). It’s only rated as surfable but very ordinary, so it’s a small window for a grovel on a longboard.

Now, the real standout is Saturday the 15th of August. The afternoon session looks like the pick of the whole run. We’ve got a solid 7ft swell from the NNE, with a period of 7 seconds and a combined energy of 523 (strong). The wind is a moderate offshore from the SW, keeping it clean. That’s a serious amount of juice for Tawharanui, but at 7ft, it’s pushing into the zone where it’s less friendly for beginners. It’s one for the experienced crew.

And then Sunday the 16th of August morning is the big one. A 10ft NNE swell rolls in with an 8-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 998 (very strong). The wind is a light offshore, keeping it clean. There’s a caveat though – at 10ft, this is strictly for experts only. The reef and point at Tawharanui will handle that size, but the beach break sections might get a bit out of control. This is a proper, powerful groundswell that will have some serious push.

The following Monday the 17th drops back, with a 5ft NE swell but cross-shore winds spoiling it. Tuesday the 18th clears up with offshore winds but the swell is down to 4ft, so it’s a decent, clean small-wave option.

So, if you’re looking for the best of it, lock in the afternoon of Saturday the 15th for size and clean conditions, or the morning of Sunday the 16th if you’re an expert and want the biggest, most powerful waves of the period. Keep in mind the 16th is a week and a half away, so that one’s a bit more of a promising hope than a sure thing.

Rusty.

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