
Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, NW swell with 2,741 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Te Araroa this week:
The surf forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Te Araroa in the next 16 days are 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 11s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Te Araroa over the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the first real action kicks off Thursday the 6th of August. It’s a mixed bag at first, but there’s some real gems hiding in the back half of the forecast, especially for the crew who don’t mind a bit of size.
Thursday morning is pretty tiny with a 1 ft swell from the SE. Not much to write home about, but the wind is offshore from the SSW, so it’s clean. The energy is weak (42), so you’ll be scratching for waves. The afternoon is a whole different story – the swell jumps to 5 ft from the SE, with a period of 10 seconds, and the wind drops to a slight air. The energy is moderate (508) and the conditions are clean. This is a solid, fun afternoon session.
Friday morning the 7th is looking glassy with a 5 ft SE swell (10-second period) and 497 energy. That’s a real nice, clean window. The wind goes glassy, so it’s going to be slick. The afternoon turns a bit cross-shore, so it’ll get a little bumpy, but still surfable.
Saturday morning the 8th is another glassy one with a 3 ft SE swell, 12-second period, and 278 energy. That’s a long period groundswell, so you’ll feel the pull between sets. It’s clean and inviting. The afternoon gets a bit light and cross-onshore, so it’ll lose its shine.
The 9th and 10th (Sunday and Monday) are a write-off. The wind goes onshore and strong, with a big 10 ft to 13 ft NW windswell on Monday. The energy is huge (1328 to 2747), but the wind is making it a lumpy, choppy mess. Leave the board at home, or maybe bring the kite gear.
We get a bit of a rebound on Tuesday the 11th morning. A clean 5 ft NW swell (9 seconds) with cross-offshore wind and 472 energy. It’s rideable, but not the standout. The next few days are a mix of small, clean, but ordinary surf through to Wednesday the 12th.
Now, here’s a real standout. Thursday the 13th of August. Morning is firing. A 6 ft NNE swell, 7-second period, with clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is strong (642) and the conditions are clean. That’s a proper fun morning. The afternoon gets a bit bigger (8 ft) but the wind goes cross-shore, so it’s a bit wonky.
Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th offer some nice, clean, smaller waves in the 4 ft to 5 ft range with offshore or clean cross-off winds. Good for a longboard or a fun grovel board.
Then we get to the big one. Sunday the 16th of August afternoon is clean with a 5 ft N swell, but the real magic is Monday the 17th. This is the one to circle. Morning brings an 8 ft N swell with a long 11-second period and clean, moderate offshore wind from the SSW. The energy is massive (1939). This is for experienced surfers only – it’s too big for beginners. The afternoon holds at 10 ft with the same clean offshore wind (2053 energy). This is a serious, powerful groundswell. It’s going to be perfect at the point, but the beach breaks will be shifty and hollow.
Tuesday the 18th is a bit of a reset, but then Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th are for the big dogs only. The 19th is huge (11 ft) with a lot of wind, but the 20th is the real sleeper. Thursday the 20th of August: morning has a 10 ft ESE swell (9-second period) with light offshore wind and 1394 energy. The afternoon is glassy with an 8 ft ESE swell and 1067 energy. Both are labeled "excellent for experienced surfers." The energy is strong, the wind is perfect, and the swell is solid. That’s a proper, heavy session.
Best on offer:
The clear standout is Monday the 17th of August. That 8 ft to 10 ft NNE groundswell with clean, moderate offshore wind is the pick of the whole run. It’s a proper, powerful, clean swell (energy 1939-2053). Only for the experienced crew.
The second best is Thursday the 20th of August. The 10 ft to 8 ft ESE swell with glassy or light offshore conditions is a rare treat, but again, it’s big and only for experts.
Crowds at Te Araroa are never a problem, so you’ll have plenty of room.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | SE 16 | SE 10 | SE 13 | SE 10 | SE 12 | NNW 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | 38 | 500 | 142 | 477 | 488 | 17 | 278 | 142 | 182 | 24 | 77 | 309 | 1269 | 2741 | 1256 | 307 | 144 | 141 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:34PM1.98m | 11:58AM1.95m | 00:22AM1.98m | 12:53PM1.96m | 1:16AM1.99m | 1:53PM1.98m | 2:15AM2.00m | 3:01PM2.01m | 3:21AM2.02m | 4:13PM2.08m | 4:27AM2.04m | 5:19PM2.18m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:59AM0.41m | 6:18PM0.57m | 6:49AM0.46m | 7:16PM0.62m | 7:44AM0.50m | 8:20PM0.64m | 8:46AM0.53m | 9:25PM0.65m | 9:51AM0.50m | 10:30PM0.63m | 10:54AM0.45m | 11:32PM0.59m | |||||||
— | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 14 | 5 | 2 | — | 9 | 1 |
Temp °C | 7 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 2 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
711 | 522 | 500 | 441 | 477 | 488 | 283 | 278 | 142 | 182 | 151 | 117 | 71 | 53 | 27 | 1256 | 307 | 144 | 141 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | SE 16 | N 14 | SE 13 | NNW 14 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | W 4 | S 12 | NNW 12 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | NE 12 | NE 12 | SE 10 | N 8 | NW 8 | SSE 11 |
26 | 38 | 4 | 142 | 20 | 61 | 95 | 9 | 71 | 14 | 44 | 41 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 165 | 112 | 64 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 16 | SSE 19 | NNW 14 | NNW 13 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | NE 13 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 12 | — | — | SE 13 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | NW 8 |
5 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 37 | 18 | 17 | 108 | 100 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 6 | — | — | 27 | 36 | 84 | 28 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 11 | S 11 | — | — | W 3 | W 4 | — | — | WNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 8 | NW 9 | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 |
— | 1832 | 1603 | — | — | 5 | 6 | — | — | 3 | 24 | 77 | 309 | 1269 | 2741 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 121 | 118 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 47 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Cape | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Te Araroa Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Te Araroa provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Te Araroa can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Te Araroa surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Te Araroa) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Te Araroa may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in East Cape? If you are looking for accommodation near Te Araroa, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in East Cape, consider staying in Gisborne which is 119 km (74 miles) away.











