Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Te Araroa.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a long, slow start. The first week is pretty much a write-off for any decent paddle. There’s a bit of tiny swell around the 1st and 2nd, but it’s barely a ripple with combined energy in the low teens (33). You’re looking at a gap of nearly a week with nothing worth mentioning. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is about average for this time of year, so the wetsuit is a given.

Things get a bit interesting, but not in a good way, on Friday the 4th. We see a jump to a 6ft swell from the WNW, but the period is a short, choppy 6 seconds, and the wind is a messy cross-shore at 19 mph. The combined energy gets up to a moderate 189, but it’s just lumpy and poor. That same day, a 5ft glassy moment on Saturday afternoon is a bit of a tease, but with a 6-second period, it’s weak and messy.

Sunday the 6th gets proper ugly with a 7ft onshore mess and energy at 308, and then Monday the 7th is a washout. The swell hits a massive 13ft from the NW with energy over 2400, but it’s way too big for this spot. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, the wind is a fresh cross-shore. It’s not worth it.

The real window opens up on Tuesday the 8th. The morning shows a 4ft NW swell with a 9-second period, and clean offshore winds from the SSW. The combined energy is a solid 218. This is where you want to be. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and rideable. The wind is a gentle offshore, so expect some lined-up waves.

The standout of the whole forecast, no question, is Friday the 11th. We get a beautiful 7ft to 8ft SE groundswell with a lovely 12-second period. The combined energy is a powerful 1150 in the morning, building to 1574 by the afternoon. Winds are glassy – dead calm. This is a dream. The swell is solid, demanding respect for experienced surfers, but the conditions are absolutely pristine. The only catch is that with a long-period swell like this, the sets will be well-spaced, but the quality will be world-class.

The following weekend, Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th, are still good. The swell drops to 6ft-7ft, and the energy is still strong (957 in the morning). The wind is light or glassy, so it’s still very clean, but the period drops off a bit, making it a little less punchy than that Friday.

The second week gets a bit more mixed. Monday the 14th has a 5ft swell but onshore winds, and the energy drops. By Tuesday the 15th, the wind picks up again, making it choppy and messy. The last highlight is Wednesday the 16th morning, with a 4ft ESE swell and glassy conditions. It’s a nice, clean end to the forecast, but the 16th afternoon turns onshore again.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a dud. The real magic is Friday the 11th of September. That’s the day to circle. The morning glass-off on the 8th and the clean weekend on the 12th/13th are solid runners-up, but the 11th is the one that’s got the juice.

Rusty.

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