Te Araroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.63° S 178.38° E

Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 21 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Te Araroa sea temperature is
15.8° C
0.6° 

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 21 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SE swell with 3,348 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Wed 22nd Jul)2ft (0.6m) 11s
Best Surf 3PM (Tue 28th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 3PM (Tue 28th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

First things first, we’re looking at Te Araroa, a beach and point break that’s consistent and exposed. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, which is nice, but the water temp is sitting at 60°F which is about 1°F warmer than average for this time of year, so nothing too wild there.

The next few days are pretty grim. Tuesday afternoon has some small 2ft swell from the ESE with a period of 11 seconds, but the wind is a cross-off from the SSE at 12 mph, and the combined energy is weak (82). The waves are there but the quality is poor. Wednesday morning sees a tiny 2ft SE swell with glassy conditions from a light W wind at 3 mph, making it clean but very ordinary. That pattern of small, weak surf continues through Thursday and Friday, with the energy staying low (45 to 82) and the wind making a mess of things. Friday afternoon actually gets a bit more size at 3ft from the E, but the wind is a cross-shore 15 mph, creating a chop. The combined energy jumps to 154 (moderate), but it’s still not surfable.

Saturday the 25th brings a change. A 8ft swell from the NW rolls in, but the period is a short 8 seconds, and the wind is cross-shore. The energy is strong (1041), but the forecast says marginal. It’s a bit of a messy one. Sunday morning the 26th cleans up with a 3ft E swell (12-second period) and light offshore SSW wind at 6 mph. The combined energy is 289 (moderate), and the call is for good surf. Not a standout, but a step in the right direction.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Monday the 27th is a real highlight. We’ve got a 6ft ESE swell, a 13-second period, and a clean 15 mph offshore SSW wind. The combined energy is pumping at 1027 (strong). This is excellent for experienced surfers. The waves will have shape and power, and the wind is keeping it clean. Tuesday the 28th is even better. The swell jumps to 8ft from the ESE with a 14-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off. The energy is 2510 (very strong). That’s a big, powerful groundswell with a long period, so it’ll be breaking with serious authority. It’s best for experts at this size, and the long period means it’ll be better on the point than the beach. Tuesday afternoon sees it peak at 10ft from the SE (14 seconds) with a 6 mph cross-off wind and 3348 (very strong) energy. That’s the standout of the whole forecast. The crowd profile is “never” here, so you might have it to yourself.

Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th stay solid with 8ft to 6ft ESE swells, all with clean offshore winds. The energy stays strong (1705 to 1089), and while the conditions are a bit more marginal on Wednesday, it’s still good for experienced surfers. Friday the 31st swings back to a 5ft SE swell with a 13-second period and a 9 mph offshore wind in the morning, giving us 1512 (strong) energy. Then Friday afternoon gets wild: a 10ft NNW swell with a short 8-second period, but glassy conditions from a light S wind. The energy is 1946 (very strong). The period is short, so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but the glassy conditions will make it rideable.

August 1st (Saturday) is another massive day. We’ve got 10ft NW swells, 9-second periods, and glassy conditions all day. The energy is 2174 and 1942 (very strong). This is big, clean, and powerful – again, for experts only. The crowd is “never,” so get out there if you can handle it.

Sunday the 2nd has a morning drop to 3ft from the SE (13 seconds) with good energy (311) and clean conditions. It’s a nice breather. Then Sunday afternoon sees another 10ft NW swell (9 seconds) with 1817 (very strong) energy and a cross-off wind. That’s a double-header day for the brave.

After that, the surf fades fast. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th drop to 2ft from the SE, with the energy falling to 160-279. The wind is offshore or cross-off, so it’s clean, but it’s small and not really worth the paddle. Wednesday the 5th is a total write-off with 1.0ft NW swell and energy of just 6. That’s a flat spell to end the run.

So, the standout: Tuesday the 28th of July and the surrounding days. That 10ft SE swell with a 14-second period, offshore winds, and very strong energy is the best on offer. It’s a true groundswell, so the point break will be firing. Get on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Fri night, light winds from the SE by Sun morning).

Tue
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
3
2
3
1
4
4
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
ESE
11
0.8
SE
11
0.5
SE
11
0.4
ESE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
11
0.4
SE
11
0.4
SE
11
0.6
E
8
0.8
E
9
2.1
NW
6
2.3
NW
8
2.3
NW
8
1.1
E
11
1
E
12
1.3
ESE
13
1.4
ESE
13
1.7
ESE
13
1.8
ESE
14
1.7
ESE
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
82
168
55
42
25
31
30
30
42
101
341
667
719
305
289
577
700
1002
1351
1279
Wind (km/h)
20
SSE
10
SW
5
W
5
N
5
SSW
5
SSW
10
NNW
15
WNW
10
WNW
25
WNW
35
NNW
15
WNW
15
W
15
SSW
10
SSW
15
SE
30
SE
25
SSW
15
SSW
5
SW
Wind State
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
High Tide
00:24AM2.05m
12:54PM1.94m
1:10AM1.99m
1:46PM1.90m
1:56AM1.93m
2:39PM1.88m
2:45AM1.88m
3:36PM1.88m
3:38AM1.85m
4:34PM1.90m
4:32AM1.84m
5:26PM1.93m
Low Tide
6:12PM0.57m
6:47AM0.51m
7:03PM0.64m
7:35AM0.57m
7:58PM0.71m
8:26AM0.62m
8:54PM0.76m
9:20AM0.66m
9:50PM0.79m
10:15AM0.67m
10:42PM0.79m
11:06AM0.66m
11:32PM0.77m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
light rain
thunderstorm
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
heavy rain
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:13
7:13
7:13
7:11
7:11
7:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:09
5:10
5:12
5:12
5:13
5:14
5:15
 mm
12
4
2
2
1
14
Temp °C
12
10
12
13
10
13
13
10
14
14
14
14
13
11
12
11
9
10
10
6
Feels °C
7
7
10
11
8
11
10
7
9
9
8
10
9
8
9
7
4
4
5
2
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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