Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, N swell with 1,014 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period with N 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. 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 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 3AM. 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here with a look at Te Araroa.
We're starting flat and ugly. The first few days through Friday and Saturday (August 28th and 29th) are total duds – bumpy, choppy, weak windswell. Don't bother waxing up.
Your first real shot comes Sunday morning, the 30th. That’s the one to circle. Light offshore wind from the WSW cleans everything up, and we get a solid 8ft north swell with moderate energy (803). The wave call is *very good*. Even though the internal numbers don’t scream, the conditions will be clean. Te Araroa is a consistent beach-and-point set-up, so that north swell should wrap in nicely. Water temp is about average for this time of year.
Sunday afternoon and Monday drop off into smaller, clean but unexciting waves. The first week of September is basically flat – most days under 3ft with light winds but no power.
We get a bump on Thursday the 4th with 5ft from the WNW, but it’s cross-shore and messy. Not worth it.
Then Sunday, September 6th, things go huge – 12ft to 13ft of northwest energy (combined energy of 1411 to 2101). That’s serious, but the wind is screaming at 25 to 40 km/h, making it a lumpy cross-shore nightmare. That’s kite-surf territory, not paddle-surfing, unless you're a total expert.
Monday the 7th is still big at 10ft, with lighter wind but still cross-shore in the morning and cross-onshore choppy in the afternoon. Not clean power.
By Tuesday the 8th, it drops to 7ft with strong cross-shore winds – still messy.
Your final good window is Thursday, September 10th. The afternoon gives us a 4ft southeast swell with light offshore wind from the west, clean conditions, and good vibes. It's small but clean, and that’s a real treat after the chaos.
After that, it fades back to tiny 3ft to 2ft leftovers. So mark your calendar: Sunday the 30th for some size and offshore magic, and Thursday the 10th for a clean, mellow session.
Stay patient, mates.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 4 | NE 4 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NW 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | 13 | 16 | 87 | 119 | 176 | 570 | 783 | 432 | 221 | 153 | 76 | 102 | 74 | 43 | 29 | 25 | 19 | 18 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:23AM1.91m | 6:56PM1.99m | 7:06AM1.93m | 7:34PM2.03m | 7:48AM1.95m | 8:13PM2.04m | 8:30AM1.97m | 8:54PM2.02m | 9:12AM1.99m | 9:39PM2.00m | 9:57AM2.00m | 10:26PM1.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:29AM0.61m | 12:41PM0.49m | 1:14AM0.52m | 1:22PM0.44m | 1:56AM0.43m | 2:05PM0.40m | 2:38AM0.36m | 2:49PM0.39m | 3:20AM0.32m | 3:34PM0.40m | 4:03AM0.32m | 4:20PM0.43m | |||||||
— | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 18 | SSE 8 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 12 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NW 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 |
121 | 32 | 93 | 84 | 47 | 45 | 52 | 783 | 432 | 221 | 153 | 84 | 193 | 97 | 294 | 88 | 183 | 143 | 111 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | SE 12 | ENE 4 | E 5 | ENE 6 | SE 13 | NE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | NNE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 11 |
2 | 37 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 27 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 10 | 108 | 76 | 102 | 74 | 148 | 197 | 25 | 19 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 17 | ESE 5 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | ENE 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 17 | NE 10 | N 12 | NE 9 | NE 9 | N 11 | SE 16 | SSE 16 |
5 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 28 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 79 | 3 | 43 | 29 | 3 | 11 | 26 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | NE 4 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | — | — | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 |
9 | 13 | 16 | 87 | 119 | 176 | 570 | — | 255 | 637 | 352 | 485 | 569 | 551 | — | — | 171 | 329 | 316 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 119 | 116 | 18 | 75 | 116 | 75 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 9 | 56 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Cape | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











