Te Araroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.63° S 178.38° E

Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Te Araroa sea temperature is
15.3° C
0.4° 

Te Araroa surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Te Araroa surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, NNE swell with 3,561 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period. 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 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 11s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Fri 7th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 12s
Best Surf 9PM (Fri 7th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 12s
Most Powerful 3PM (Fri 14th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. The surf’s been a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a few windows where it’s worth paddling out. The water’s sitting at 60°F, which is right around average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We start things off on Friday morning at Te Araroa. It’s clean and glassy with a 5ft southeast swell rolling in on a 10-second period. The energy’s moderate at 506, and it’s looking like a solid start. The wind is light out of the WSW, making for some nice, clean lines. This is probably the best bet for a proper surf session right out of the gate. The afternoon stays okay, but that cross-shore breeze kicks up a little chop, so it’s not as pristine.

Saturday morning sees the swell drop to 3ft, but it’s still clean with that 12-second period and a light cross-offshore wind. It’s surfable, but it’s not going to blow you away. The afternoon gets smaller and more ordinary, so it’s more of a longboard kind of day if you’re keen.

Sunday is a write-off. The wind swings around to the northwest and picks up, turning the ocean into a lumpy mess. The swell is short-period and weak, and it’s just not worth fighting the chop. You’re better off doing something else.

Monday morning brings a bit more size – 8ft – but it’s from the northwest and the period drops to 8 seconds. The energy’s strong at 926, but that cross-shore wind and the shorter period make it a bit tricky. The afternoon eases off to 7ft, but it’s still not the cleanest. This is more for the experienced crew who don’t mind a bit of a battle.

Tuesday and Wednesday are pretty bleh. The swell drops and the wind’s messy, with some light rain on Wednesday. The waves are small and the conditions are choppy. Not worth getting excited about.

Thursday morning is small and clean, but there’s barely any energy. It’s a bit of a non-event.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 14th is a big one – but not in a good way. We’ve got a strong onshore wind and a huge swell pushing in, reaching 12ft in the morning and 15ft in the afternoon. The energy is strong to very strong, hitting 3621 in the afternoon, but with that wind and size, it’s going to be a washing machine. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s probably going to be a mess.

Saturday the 15th is still big, with 12ft in the morning and 10ft in the afternoon. The wind is cross-shore and fresh, making it lumpy. The models say it’s too big for this break, and I’d agree. It’s more of a spectacle than a surf.

But then, Sunday the 16th is the standout. The swell drops to a manageable 5ft, and the wind swings offshore, making it glassy and clean. The energy is moderate at 513, and the conditions are described as very good. This is the one to circle on the calendar. It’s a proper clean session with good waves and no crowds to worry about.

After that, it’s a slow fade. The swell drops off through the week, and while the wind stays offshore and clean for a few days, the waves get smaller and smaller. By the 20th and 21st, there’s almost nothing – just small, clean leftovers. The 22nd is flat with a cross-shore breeze.

So, the takeaway is: Friday morning is a solid start, but Sunday the 16th morning is the real winner. The big stuff in between is for the brave or the crazy, and the end of the run is a flat, clean desert. Keep your eyes on that Sunday.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the NW by Sun night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
1
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SE
10
1.4
SE
12
0.2
NNW
13
0.9
SE
12
0.6
SE
12
0.2
NNW
12
1.1
NW
5
1.6
NW
6
3
NW
7
2.5
NW
8
2
NW
8
1.4
NNW
8
1.2
NNW
7
0.9
NNW
7
1.3
NNE
7
1.3
N
7
1.6
NNW
8
1.4
NNW
8
1
N
7
0.9
NNW
7
1.4
N
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
486
488
17
216
108
14
47
169
817
865
494
224
135
82
157
150
280
226
100
77
104
Wind (km/h)
5
WSW
15
WNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
10
WNW
15
W
20
NW
30
NNW
30
NW
15
WNW
10
WNW
10
S
10
SSE
10
ESE
5
E
15
ENE
15
ENE
5
N
10
NNW
15
NNW
10
NNE
Wind State
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
on
High Tide
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
5:30AM2.06m
6:14PM2.27m
6:28AM2.08m
7:05PM2.30m
Low Tide
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
11:51AM0.39m
00:32AM0.53m
12:44PM0.36m
1:27AM0.45m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
heavy rain
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:00
6:58
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:23
5:24
5:24
5:25
5:27
5:28
5:29
 mm
1
18
3
2
1
5
Temp °C
10
11
8
11
11
12
14
14
14
16
15
11
12
12
12
12
13
15
16
16
15
Feels °C
7
6
4
8
8
8
9
9
9
11
12
9
9
9
9
10
11
16
14
14
14
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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