Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Alright, look, I’m not gonna sugar-coat it. The next couple of weeks at Tawharanui are a tough watch. We’ve got a proper drought on our hands. The first standout doesn’t pop up until Saturday the 29th of August, so you’re looking at a solid 12-day stretch of flat to tiny, messy junk. There’s a bit of movement in the second week, but it’s mostly wind-affected and small, not worth paddling out for.

The water temp is sitting at 58°F, which is pretty average for this time of year, no real surprises there.

Now, the one true highlight in this whole 16-day window lands on Saturday morning, the 29th of August. Tawharanui, a beach and reef setup exposed to the NE, finally gets a pulse. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the north with a period of 8 seconds, and combined wave energy is a strong 307. That’s enough to make it interesting for intermediate surfers – it’s not beginner wave height, but it’s not into expert-only territory either. The wind? Glassy. Dead calm. That’s the big win. You’re looking at clean, shaped-up lines rolling in. A high tide could make the reef sections work, but the beachies might get a bit fat on that period. Still, this is your window.

Saturday afternoon sees the wind shift onshore from the NE at 15 mph, and the swell drops back to 5ft, so the morning is the clear pick. Early birds will get the reward.

After that, it fades fast. Sunday the 30th brings a smaller 3ft north swell, but it’s got a 15 mph onshore wind ruining it. The rest of the run into early September is a mix of tiny swell and crummy cross-onshore breezes – not worth getting wet for.

So, short story: If you’re desperate for a wave, be on the sand at Tawharanui first light on Saturday the 29th. It’s the only call in a long, quiet spell.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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