Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, NW swell with 1,334 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period. 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 3.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s break down the surf for Te Araroa over the next couple weeks.
The real winner is this Sunday afternoon. The wind is dead glassy, zero breeze, and there’s a clean 5 ft swell from the NE with about 8 seconds between waves. The water is 58°F, right where it should be for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (585), and this spot is consistent and never crowded. If you’re getting a session in, this is it.
After that, it’s a rough stretch. Monday and Tuesday are tiny and messy with strong cross-off winds. You’ll be staring at flat or poor conditions for days. There’s a brief spike on Friday, 4 September, with an 8 ft swell from the NW, but the period is a short, choppy 7 seconds and the wind is a fresh cross-shore. That’s a lumpy mess. By Friday afternoon, it’s blowing up to 12 ft from the NW, which is way too big and messy for this break – that’s more of a kite surfing day than a paddle session.
The rest of the second week is a slog. There’s a tiny pulse on Friday, 11 September, with a 5 ft swell from the NW and a light offshore wind from the S, but the period is a weak 5 seconds and the energy is low (165). It’s surfable, but nothing special. After that, it’s all tiny, clean swells that won’t get you moving. The 12 September has a long 13-second period, but it’s only 1 ft – not enough to push you.
Bottom line: don’t miss that Sunday afternoon. The rest of the forecast is a long, quiet wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the W by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Fri morning, calm by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 11 | NE 11 | ENE 11 | NW 7 | NW 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
304 | 194 | 41 | 21 | 84 | 74 | 44 | 29 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 559 | 1334 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 90 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross |
High Tide | 8:13PM2.04m | 8:30AM1.97m | 8:54PM2.02m | 9:12AM1.99m | 9:39PM2.00m | 9:57AM2.00m | 10:26PM1.98m | 10:46AM1.99m | 11:14PM1.98m | 11:39AM1.98m | 00:05AM1.98m | 12:38PM1.96m | 00:59AM1.97m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:38AM0.36m | 2:49PM0.39m | 3:20AM0.32m | 3:34PM0.40m | 4:03AM0.32m | 4:20PM0.43m | 4:47AM0.34m | 5:09PM0.47m | 5:36AM0.39m | 6:02PM0.53m | 6:28AM0.44m | 7:01PM0.58m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 16 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | N 9 | N 9 | NNE 10 | NE 10 | SSE 10 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 9 |
304 | 194 | 41 | 19 | 84 | 140 | 225 | 191 | 199 | 161 | 85 | 81 | 53 | 24 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 12 | NE 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 12 | NE 9 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | NE 11 | NE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 8 | SSE 10 | ENE 10 |
281 | 101 | 40 | 21 | 77 | 74 | 138 | 260 | 12 | 124 | 57 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | SE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 9 | SE 11 | N 12 | NE 10 | NE 9 | SSE 18 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 11 | N 10 | N 10 | — |
77 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 44 | 29 | 61 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 8 | — | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 |
— | 528 | 617 | 982 | 746 | 481 | 346 | — | 190 | 263 | 330 | 213 | 246 | 362 | 559 | 1334 | 734 | 286 | 203 | 90 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 18 | 18 | 67 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 91 | 67 | 73 | 6 | 121 | 67 |
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.











