Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 7s period, NW swell with 795 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Te Araroa in the next 16 days are 2.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 7s |
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 Te Araroa has cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you, it’s a pretty bleak run overall. The numbers just aren't there for a proper session for most of this forecast period.
Looking at the whole picture, this is a grim stretch. We’ve got a solid two-week gap where there's almost nothing to get excited about. The first real glimmer of hope doesn't show up until Thursday the 3rd of September, and even then it's a one-off moment. For days on end, we're looking at tiny swell and messy wind. The energy levels are pitiful, mostly sitting between 40 and 100, with a lot of readings well under 50, so there’s just no power in the water.
Okay, let's walk through it day by day. From Sunday the 23rd of August right through the rest of the month, it's a write-off. We've got poor surf conditions day after day. Winds are howling from the northwest or west, creating chop and lumpy seas. The swell is tiny—a foot at best—and when it does pop up a bit, like the 8ft on the 23rd afternoon, the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is a messy cross-shore. The combined energy hits 581 on that one, which is moderate, but it's just a sloppy mess. Not worth paddling out for.
This poor run stretches all the way through August. We get a bit of clean-looking water on the 24th and 25th mornings, but the swell is a pathetic 1ft. The waves just aren't there. We get into a more consistent pattern of cross-offshore winds, which would be nice, but the swell height is stuck in the gutter, never topping 2ft. It’s a frustrating tease. The wind cranks up again on the 29th with strong cross-onshore that’s just messy.
The first real standout in this whole forecast is on Thursday, the 3rd of September. Thursday morning, we finally see something different. It’s glassy. Glassy! A light southwesterly breeze, 3 mph, has the ocean looking like a mirror. We've got a clean 5ft swell rolling in from the northwest with an 8-second period. The combined energy is a moderate 336, which is the best we've seen by a long shot. This is the one. It’s not a massive swell, but for a beach and point break like Te Araroa, that 5ft from the northwest with glassy conditions will produce some clean, fun waves. Don't expect a crowd, but it’s a solid shot at a good session. This is your best bet by a long shot.
Sadly, it doesn't last. By Thursday afternoon, the swell collapses back to 2ft. And then Friday the 4th of September cranks up the wind again with a strong northwesterly blowing 19 mph, and the swell jumps up to 10ft to 12ft. That's expert territory, but the wind is just wrecking it, making it lumpy and ugly. The energy is high—868 and 1698—but it's just a wind-blown mess. Not one for a paddle, that looks more like a kite day if you ask me.
After that, it drops right off again. We're back to tiny 0.5ft to 1ft clean little dribbles for the rest of the forecast right through to Monday the 7th of September. It's flat.
So, honestly, if you're free on the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September, Te Araroa could be all-time with that glass and clean 5ft NW groundswell. Every other time slot is a hard pass. Keep an eye on the forecasts, though—this area doesn't tend to stay this flat forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | NW 7 | NNW 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | 34 | 540 | 187 | 33 | 34 | 46 | 44 | 26 | 25 | 44 | 43 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 46 | 107 | 149 | 146 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:02AM1.81m | 2:56PM1.84m | 2:58AM1.78m | 3:55PM1.84m | 3:55AM1.79m | 4:50PM1.86m | 4:49AM1.83m | 5:37PM1.90m | 5:37AM1.87m | 6:18PM1.95m | 6:23AM1.91m | 6:56PM1.99m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:34AM0.71m | 9:14PM0.80m | 9:33AM0.72m | 10:06PM0.79m | 10:28AM0.70m | 10:56PM0.75m | 11:17AM0.64m | 11:43PM0.69m | 12:00PM0.56m | 00:29AM0.61m | 12:41PM0.49m | 1:14AM0.52m | |||||||
— | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | NNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 13 | SSE 11 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | SSE 17 | SSE 18 | SE 17 | SE 14 | SSE 11 |
47 | 45 | 26 | 187 | 158 | 58 | 43 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 89 | 30 | 24 | 14 | 59 | 61 | 76 | 33 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 9 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SSE 8 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | S 8 | SSE 18 | ESE 11 | NE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 16 | SE 14 |
16 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 17 | 46 | 44 | 14 | 25 | 44 | 43 | 5 | 30 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 25 | 32 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | NE 13 | NE 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | ESE 13 | SSE 17 | NE 10 | SSE 12 | NE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | NE 10 | S 8 | NE 10 | SE 11 | NNE 10 | NE 9 | NNE 9 |
6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 34 | 28 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | W 7 | — | N 5 | WNW 5 | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | — | — | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 |
143 | 336 | 540 | 345 | — | 2 | 37 | 154 | 215 | 114 | — | — | 8 | 98 | 117 | 46 | 107 | 149 | 146 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 18 | 91 | 9 | 18 | 121 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 67 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 75 |
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.











