Te Araroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.63° S 178.38° E

Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 18 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Te Araroa sea temperature is
16.3° C
1.1° 

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 17 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s period, ESE swell with 947 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 14s 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 1.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sat 18th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 14s
Best Surf 6PM (Sat 18th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 14s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sat 18th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the cards for Te Araroa over the next couple of weeks.

The first solid window of surf kicks off this Saturday the 18th, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag to start. Saturday morning brings a 5ft swell from the ESE with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 986. The wind is a cross-shore from the WNW at 12 mph, which isn’t ideal for clean faces. It’ll be a bit lumpy, and honestly, it’s a marginal session. The afternoon cleans up a little as the wind goes cross-off, dropping the swell to 5ft, but still, nothing to get too excited about.

Sunday the 19th is where we start to see some real potential. The morning session is the standout early in the period. A clean 4ft SE swell with a 13-second period, and light cross-off winds from the SW at 6 mph. The combined energy is 509, which is moderate, but the conditions are clean. This is a good, solid, fun wave for a beginner to intermediate surfer. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Things drop off quickly after that. From Monday the 20th through to Thursday the 23rd, the swell gets tiny—1ft to 3ft—with low energy readings (between 36 and 184). The best of that lot is Thursday morning the 23rd with glassy conditions and a 1ft SE swell, but you’d be fighting for a knee-high wave. It’s a real lull.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are a write-off. The wind is up and the swell is a messy, short-period windswell from the WNW and NW. Not worth paddling out for.

Now, we get a bit of a pulse again on Sunday the 26th. A 3ft SE swell rolls in with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is 386. The wind is cross-off from the W at 12 mph, so it’s clean. It’s not huge, but it’s a better option than what we’ve seen.

The best on offer, however, is Monday the 27th. The morning brings a clean 3ft SE swell with a 13-second period, and the wind is offshore from the SW at 12 mph. The combined energy is 332. The conditions are described as “moderate offshore and clean,” which means proper groomed waves. This is the pick of the period for a solid, longboard-friendly session.

Tuesday the 28th is glassy but small, with 2ft to 2ft swells. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it.

Then we get a bit of a jump in size on Wednesday the 29th. A 6ft NW swell with a short 7-second period and 346 combined energy. The wind is cross-off in the morning, so it’s clean, but that short period means it’ll be a bit crumbly and maybe a little too fat for a point break. It’s still a fun, punchy option for a shortboard.

Thursday the 30th is mostly flat, and then Friday the 31st brings a 7ft NW swell with a 6-second period, building to 8ft by the afternoon. The wind is light, but the period is so short it’ll be a bit of a bumpy, chaotic mess. That’s one for the more experienced crew who don’t mind a challenge.

The real kicker is on Saturday the 1st of August. A massive 13ft to 15ft NW swell arrives with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 3952. That’s a lot of power. The wind is cross-shore, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. It’s a serious, heavy, expert-only situation. The beach-and-point setup here is going to be absolutely thumping, and honestly, for the average surfer, it’s a day to watch from the shore. For a kite surfer, this would be a dream.

Sunday the 2nd of August sees the swell drop back to 6ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and the wind is offshore from the S at 3 mph. It’s a clean, decent option to wrap up the forecast.

So, to sum it up: the standout is Monday the 27th for a clean, offshore, 3ft SE swell. For a bit more size, Wednesday the 29th is worth a look, and for the brave, Saturday the 1st of August is a big-wave, expert-only day.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
3
3
2
2
2
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
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)
1.5
ESE
14
1.4
SE
14
1.3
ESE
14
1.2
SE
13
1.1
SE
13
0.9
ESE
12
0.9
SE
12
0.8
ESE
12
0.7
SE
11
0.7
SE
11
0.6
ESE
11
0.6
ESE
11
0.5
SE
11
0.4
ESE
10
0.7
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
1.1
NE
9
0.9
E
8
0.9
ENE
9
0.9
E
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
947
811
607
509
424
255
205
177
130
123
82
79
55
42
38
79
86
174
113
138
133
Wind (km/h)
20
WNW
20
W
15
W
10
SW
15
SE
10
SSW
15
S
25
SSE
20
S
15
S
15
SSE
10
SSW
5
SSW
5
ESE
10
S
10
S
5
N
15
WNW
20
WNW
20
NW
25
NNW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
glassy
off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
High Tide
9:25AM2.17m
9:57PM2.28m
10:17AM2.12m
10:47PM2.19m
11:09AM2.06m
11:36PM2.11m
12:02PM2.00m
00:24AM2.05m
12:54PM1.94m
1:10AM1.99m
1:46PM1.90m
1:56AM1.93m
2:39PM1.88m
2:45AM1.88m
Low Tide
3:42PM0.39m
4:22AM0.43m
4:33PM0.45m
5:11AM0.43m
5:23PM0.51m
5:59AM0.46m
6:12PM0.57m
6:47AM0.51m
7:03PM0.64m
7:35AM0.57m
7:58PM0.71m
8:26AM0.62m
8:54PM0.76m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:16
7:16
7:15
7:15
7:13
7:13
7:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:08
5:08
5:09
5:10
5:12
5:12
 mm
1
7
Temp °C
13
13
10
13
13
12
12
12
11
13
13
10
12
12
10
13
12
10
14
14
14
Feels °C
9
8
7
11
10
9
7
6
6
8
9
7
11
10
7
11
11
6
10
10
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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