Te Araroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.63° S 178.38° E

Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Te Araroa sea temperature is
15.4° 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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period, SE swell with 1,070 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Te Araroa in the next 16 days are 2.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Wed 19th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 10s
Best Surf 9PM (Wed 19th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 10s
Most Powerful 9PM (Wed 19th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break it down in feet and miles per hour.

Honestly, mate, it’s a tough run for Te Araroa. The first real surf worth paddlin’ for doesn’t show up until Thursday, August 20th, so you’ve got a couple days of flat and poor conditions to sit through.

Thursday the 20th is where it finally lights up. Thursday afternoon is the clear standout early on—dead glassy conditions, a 5ft swell out of the SE, and moderate wave energy (397). The water temp is about normal for this time of year, just a touch warmer than average at 60°. That afternoon, the wind is glass, the waves are clean, and Te Araroa is a consistent spot, so it’ll hold that swell nicely. Friday morning the 21st keeps the glassy feel with 4ft SE swell, but energy is lower (248). By Friday afternoon, it gets a bit bumpy with cross-shore wind, and then it really fades.

From Saturday the 22nd through Wednesday the 26th, it’s mostly tiny, messy, or basically flat. You’re stuck with knee-high slop and cross-shore winds for nearly a week, with energy readings in the 30s and 40s. Not worth the hassle.

Then around Thursday the 27th of August, the swell starts climbing again, but the winds are all wrong—cross-shore and cross-onshore—so even though you see 6ft to 8ft NNW swells (energy up to 846), the quality is rubbish. Choppy and lumpy. That carries into the weekend, and on Sunday the 30th of August, a massive 10ft to 12ft NW swell rolls in (energy up to 1487), and we finally get offshore winds and clean conditions. That’s expert-only territory though—too big for anyone but the brave. The afternoon gets so clean it’s glassy, but it’s just way too heavy.

After that, it drops off quick into September with small, ordinary surf.

So, bottom line: Thursday the 20th afternoon is your best shot—glassy, clean, head-high and fun. After that, you’re waitin’ till the end of the month, and that’s only for the big-wave crew.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 6°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Wed morning, calm by Fri morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat night, light winds from the W by Mon morning).

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
10
3
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
2.2
SE
10
1.7
SE
9
1.5
SE
9
1.3
SE
9
1.1
SE
10
1
SE
10
0.8
SE
10
0.5
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
1.8
WNW
6
0.3
ESE
13
0.3
ESE
13
0.3
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
13
0.3
ESE
13
0.3
ESE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2
0
0
895
457
336
262
250
204
110
41
29
238
34
33
30
34
34
33
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
35
S
35
S
15
SSW
10
SW
5
SSE
5
WSW
0
SW
10
WNW
15
W
20
W
25
WNW
30
WNW
30
NW
30
WNW
15
W
10
W
10
WNW
15
W
Wind State
off
off
off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
11:03PM2.04m
11:28AM1.97m
11:46PM1.99m
12:17PM1.92m
00:29AM1.93m
1:07PM1.88m
1:13AM1.87m
2:00PM1.85m
2:02AM1.81m
2:56PM1.84m
2:58AM1.78m
3:55PM1.84m
Low Tide
5:24AM0.43m
5:39PM0.55m
6:08AM0.50m
6:27PM0.64m
6:53AM0.57m
7:20PM0.72m
7:40AM0.65m
8:17PM0.78m
8:34AM0.71m
9:14PM0.80m
9:33AM0.72m
10:06PM0.79m
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:41
6:41
6:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
 mm
3
1
1
Temp °C
9
11
11
9
13
13
10
14
13
12
15
15
14
14
15
14
14
14
12
Feels °C
3
2
3
5
10
11
8
12
10
9
10
9
9
9
11
9
12
11
9
  • 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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