Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight up with ya, the first few days are a write-off. We’re talkin’ Thursday the 3rd right through to Saturday the 5th – mostly tiny dribble with messy cross-shore winds, and that 0.7ft to 1ft stuff just ain’t worth paddlin’ out for. You’d be fightin’ whitebait.

Then Saturday arvo, things start to flicker. That light westerly breeze cleans it right up, and we see a little 6ft pulse creep in from the WNW, but it’s short period – only 6 seconds – so it’s gonna be fat and weak. Still, it’s the first half-decent chance, with moderate wave energy (203). Not a standout, but it’s a start.

Sunday looks messy again – cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions, so best to give it a miss. Monday the 7th is where it gets interesting – but only if you know what you’re doin’. The swell bumps up to 10ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and the energy jumps to 1608 – that’s proper grunty. But the wind’s cross-shore and it’s rainin’, so it’s gonna be raw and challenging. This is expert-only territory. By Monday afternoon, it backs off a bit to 8ft but the wind swings south and cleans it up. That’s a solid session for the experienced crew at Te Araroa – it’s a beach and point setup, so the long-period groundswell should wrap around and give some good lines. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothin’ weird goin’ on there.

Tuesday the 8th drops off quick – down to 5ft and onshore junk. Wednesday and Thursday are flat as a tack, barely a ripple. You get a little bump on Friday the 11th – tiny 1ft stuff from the NE, period around 11 seconds, clean with light westerlies. It’s surfable but very ordinary – honestly, just a dribble.

Saturday the 12th is almost glassy in the morning, with a 1ft NE groundswell. It’s clean, but there’s no power behind it. You’d be bobbin’ around on a longboard if anythin’. From there it’s a long dry stretch – nothing of real note until Monday the 14th arvo, where we see a little 4ft spike from the WNW, but period’s a shocking 4 seconds, so it’s just windswell mush.

The rest of the second week is quiet. There’s a faint pulse of long-period ESE swell around Thursday the 17th – 1ft to 2ft, 14-15 second period, energy up around 149-150 – but it’s too small and the wind’s cross or cross-off. Might look pretty but it’s not gonna get your heart racin’. The 16-day run fizzles out on Friday the 18th with lumpy onshore junk.

Best bet? No doubt about it – Monday the 7th. That 10ft NW groundswell (1608 energy) is the standout, even with the rain and cross-shore wind. The afternoon cleans up nicely. If you’re an experienced local, you’ll be smilin’. For everyone else, that Saturday arvo on the 5th is your best clean but small window.

Stay keen,
Rusty

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