Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a slow start at Te Araroa, but the second half of the outlook is where it gets interesting.

The first few days are a write-off with poor surf and messy winds. Monday 13 July and Tuesday 14 July are all cross-shore or cross-onshore breezes with small, weak swell – not worth paddling out for. Wednesday 15 July stays marginal, though the morning offers a clean 1.3m cross-off wind, but it’s a short-period 5-second swell with moderate energy (207), so it’s still a struggle.

Thursday 16 July brings a cleaner morning with 0.6m from the ESE and a 14-second period, low energy (206), but it’s rideable. The afternoon gets a bigger 0.8m pulse with a 18-second period and a jump in energy (461), but still just marginal.

Now, Friday 17 July morning is the real standout. We’ve got 1.6m from the ESE with a 15-second period – that’s proper groundswell – and a combined energy of 1193, strong. Light offshore wind from the west, clean conditions. This is for experienced surfers only, as it’s over 1.5m, and the long period means it’s best handled at the point break. Saturday 18 July morning is another cracker: 1.6m from the SE, 15-second period, strong energy (1124), and glassy offshore wind from the SSW. Clean as a whistle. The afternoon gets a bit more wind but still offshore from the south at 35 km/h, with 1.4m and 14-second period – still good for the experienced.

Sunday 19 July morning is milder but still clean with 1.1m from the SE, 13-second period, and a light offshore. Crowds are never an issue here, so you’ll have it to yourself. The following week from Monday 20 July to Wednesday 22 July drops off – small ESE swell around 0.6m to 0.9m, mostly clean but low energy, only worth a paddle if you’re desperate.

Thursday 23 July is a write-off – poor conditions with fresh cross-off wind and short-period swell. Friday 24 July morning gets good again: 1.3m from the ENE with an 11-second period, solid energy (693), and a clean offshore from the SSW. Saturday 25 July is glassy in the morning with 0.9m from the ENE, moderate energy (438), and a light SSE breeze – a nice little session. Sunday 26 July is also glassy with 0.8m from the SE, 13-second period, and calm winds.

Looking further out, Monday 27 July morning has a glassy 1.7m from the NNW, but it’s short-period at 6 seconds – a bit wonky but clean. The afternoon jumps to 3.0m from the NNW, 7-second period, and strong energy (1193), but that’s only for experts and the wind turns cross-shore, making it messy. Tuesday 28 July is a no-go with onshore wind and 2.2m short-period swell.

The best on offer is the Friday 17 July morning and Saturday 18 July morning – both have strong groundswell, clean offshore wind, and Te Araroa’s consistent point break will handle that long-period energy well. Get in before the crowds (which are never an issue).

Rusty.

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