Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, N swell with 756 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with NE 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 (Sep 13) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Te Araroa in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ over at Te Araroa for the next couple of weeks.
First things first, the water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about there.
Honestly, the next few days are flat-out grim. That small, weak 1ft NE windswell with 13-second period you see on Sunday the 13th? Don’t even bother. The combined energy is pitiful at 25 and 24, with cross-off winds messing things up. Monday and Tuesday are even smaller—rubbish. You’ve got a big gap of nothing worthwhile until we get to the weekend.
Now, things finally wake up on Saturday the 19th. That’s your standout window. Te Araroa is set to pull in a clean 6ft swell from the NNE on Saturday morning, combined energy at a solid 857 (moderate-to-strong), with a gentle cross-off breeze from the west. That’s proper surf. The wave period is 9 seconds, so it’s a bit of a windswell, but with that power and clean conditions, it’ll be fun, punchy, and good for a beginner-to-intermediate crew. Saturday afternoon drops slightly to 5ft, still clean with a light cross-off, but the period shortens to 8 seconds.
Sunday the 20th is still worth a paddle. Morning has 4ft from the NNE, clean and glassy with western winds dropping to just 3 mph. The energy’s down to 221, so not as grunty, but the waves will be user-friendly. By afternoon it goes glassy with a 4ft NE swell—ordinary conditions, but a clean longboard day.
After that, from Monday the 21st onward, it fades again. You get a few small, clean windows (like Tuesday the 22nd afternoon with a weird 3ft WNW windswell at 4 seconds—maybe a novelty), but nothing that compares to that Saturday stand-out.
If you're looking for the best: hit it Saturday the 19th. The swell’s direction (NNE) matches up well with the break’s optimum from the NE/NNE, and with that offshore cross-off breeze, it’s going to be clean. Crowds? Te Araroa’s marked "never" busy, so you might have it mostly to yourself. That’s rare and sweet.
The following weekend, the 26th, shows some 5ft SE swell with cross-off winds, but it’s a marginal call—energy is moderate but the quality is doubtful. Nothing special.
So, a long gap of nothing, then a belter of a Saturday, then back to small stuff. That’s the story.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Fri morning, light winds from the W by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NNE 12 | N 13 | NE 13 | NNE 11 | NE 13 | NE 12 | WNW 5 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 16 | N 7 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 25 | 23 | 68 | 52 | 114 | 59 | 122 | 467 | 620 | 365 | 445 | 456 | 271 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:15PM2.08m | 8:41AM2.07m | 9:01PM2.04m | 9:26AM2.05m | 9:46PM2.01m | 10:10AM2.01m | 10:28PM1.97m | 10:55AM1.96m | 11:09PM1.92m | 11:41AM1.92m | 11:50PM1.87m | 12:29PM1.88m | 00:34AM1.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:11PM0.38m | 2:41AM0.32m | 2:58PM0.40m | 3:24AM0.34m | 3:42PM0.43m | 4:07AM0.38m | 4:24PM0.49m | 4:48AM0.44m | 5:07PM0.57m | 5:28AM0.52m | 5:54PM0.66m | 6:10AM0.61m | 6:46PM0.73m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | W 6 | WNW 6 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 16 | SE 13 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 |
| kJ | 170 | 94 | 25 | 186 | 122 | 107 | 130 | 92 | 96 | 92 | 68 | 52 | 114 | 59 | 122 | 392 | 620 | 365 | 445 | 456 | 271 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 13 | SSE 11 | NE 12 | WNW 4 | NNE 12 | NNW 4 | NNE 3 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | SE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 11 | SE 9 | NE 11 | SE 13 | SE 12 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 25 | 130 | 23 | 4 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 12 | 51 | 5 | 352 | 240 | 197 | 327 | 211 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | NE 12 | ENE 9 | NE 12 | E 9 | N 13 | NE 13 | NNE 11 | N 12 | NNE 11 | N 11 | NE 12 | N 11 | NE 11 | ENE 11 | — | — | NW 13 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 27 | 24 | 8 | 23 | 6 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 12 | — | — | 7 | 155 | 99 | 106 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | S 11 | SSE 8 | — | NW 4 | — | — | NNE 3 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 5 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | NNW 4 | N 7 | — | NW 8 | — | SSE 4 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 213 | 499 | 142 | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 9 | 56 | 41 | 59 | 22 | 7 | 467 | — | 208 | — | 12 | 610 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 399 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 166 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 120 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Cape | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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