Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 7s period, NNW swell with 620 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with NW 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 2.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, grab a cuppa, ‘cause I’m gonna level with ya. The next 16 days at Te Araroa are a proper mixed bag, but I’ll walk you through it so you don’t waste your time.
Straight off the bat, we’ve got a long dry spell. From Tuesday the 25th of August right through to Sunday the 30th, it’s rubbish. Tiny swell, mostly under 1 ft, with cross-off or onshore breezes. The combined wave energy is basically a whisper, around 20 to 44. It’s just not worth paddling out. Monday the 31st isn’t much better – a little bump from the NNE, but the cross-on wind kills any chance of a decent wave.
Then, on Tuesday the 1st of September, we get a bit of life. Light offshore wind from the west, clean conditions, and a 4 ft swell from the NE with a 10-second period. The combined energy jumps to 229, which is proper moderate. That Tuesday morning window is the closest we get to a decent paddle in the first week-and-a-bit. It’s still only marginal, so keep your expectations in check.
The real standout, and I mean the only true highlight in this whole 16-day run, is Wednesday the 9th of September. We see a NW swell pushing 6 ft in the morning, with a period of 6 seconds. The combined energy clocks in at 192, so it’s a moderate push. But here’s the kicker: by Wednesday afternoon, that swell jumps to 8 ft from the NW, with energy hitting 627 – that’s strong. This is a proper punch, but the wind swings cross-onshore from the NW at 15 mph, which makes it choppy. For experienced surfers only, and even then, it’ll be a battle. The break is a beach and point setup, so that NW swell could offer some decent lines when the wind lets up, but it’s not going to be glassy.
Bottom line: if you’re chasing quality, the 9th of September morning is your best bet, but it’s a long way off, so don’t hold your breath. Most of the run is flat or blown out. Not a classic Te Araroa window, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Forecasts can flip, but right now, it’s a patience game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat night, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sat night, light winds from the SW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 18 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | N 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
44 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 22 | 0 | 52 | 70 | 41 | 76 | 230 | 278 | 620 | 528 | 475 | 79 | 103 | 93 | 275 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:50PM1.86m | 4:49AM1.83m | 5:37PM1.90m | 5:37AM1.87m | 6:18PM1.95m | 6:23AM1.91m | 6:56PM1.99m | 7:06AM1.93m | 7:34PM2.03m | 7:48AM1.95m | 8:13PM2.04m | 8:30AM1.97m | 8:54PM2.02m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:28AM0.70m | 10:56PM0.75m | 11:17AM0.64m | 11:43PM0.69m | 12:00PM0.56m | 00:29AM0.61m | 12:41PM0.49m | 1:14AM0.52m | 1:22PM0.44m | 1:56AM0.43m | 2:05PM0.40m | 2:38AM0.36m | 2:49PM0.39m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 12 | NE 9 | NW 7 | WNW 6 | NE 8 | NNE 11 |
44 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 39 | 9 | 52 | 70 | 93 | 52 | 46 | 28 | 50 | 21 | 40 | 79 | 64 | 93 | 275 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | S 8 | SSE 11 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 12 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SE 12 | E 5 | E 5 | SE 13 | SE 13 | NE 10 | S 10 | SE 12 | N 7 | NNE 8 | WNW 6 | SSE 21 |
14 | 5 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 131 | 119 | 37 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 2 | 22 | 38 | 103 | 48 | 483 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | SSE 18 | NE 10 | SSE 19 | S 8 | WNW 4 | NE 9 | SE 15 | ESE 14 | E 6 | NNE 11 | S 11 | S 15 | S 10 | NE 8 | SE 11 | NNE 11 | SE 11 |
12 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 4 | 35 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 2 | 55 | 5 | 88 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | — | SSE 4 | — | — | N 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | W 6 | — | S 4 | WNW 6 |
62 | 179 | 80 | 154 | 169 | 84 | — | 22 | — | — | 41 | 76 | 230 | 278 | 620 | 528 | 475 | 128 | — | 8 | 92 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 67 | 166 | 67 | 18 | 18 | 67 | 219 | 166 | 18 | 118 | 120 | 18 | 18 | 107 | 67 | 18 | 56 | 0 | 9 | 18 | 0 |
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.











