Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 13s period, SE swell with 1,806 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s period with ESE 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 (Jul 26) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Te Araroa in the next 16 days are 2.3m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 10s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Imperial Units
Alright, let’s talk feet and degrees, because that’s how it feels. Te Araroa is our only play. Water temp is about 60°F, dead normal for the season, nothing to write home about.
The run starts Sunday morning the 26th of July. We got a clean 4ft ESE swell, 14-second period. Moderate energy (472), light S breeze offshore. It's a small but clean little start. Glassy vibes.
Monday the 27th is better. 5ft ESE swell, 13-second period, with the wind holding offshore from the SW. Energy jumps to 736. Clean 5ft to 5ft waves all day. Nice shape, good lines.
Now Tuesday the 28th is the real deal in the first week. Swell hits 8ft from the SE, still a long 13-second period. The combined energy is massive – 1731 in the morning, 1806 in the arvo. Offshore wind from the S and SSW. This is expert territory – not a spot to send a beginner. The long-period groundswell will stand up and pitch, but it can be a bit straight at the beach. Work the point for better shape.
Wednesday morning the 29th is still excellent: 6ft ESE swell, offshore. Comes apart a bit in the afternoon with the wind swinging cross-onshore. Thursday turns to junk with strong cross-shore winds. Friday the 31st? Forget it. You got 10ft to 12ft of short-period junk, 7-8 seconds, with gale-force winds. Total mess, not for surfing.
Then it goes dead. From the 1st of August through the 4th, we’re looking at waves under 2ft. A long, flat, boring stretch. A few days of nothing.
Wednesday the 5th sees a return. Clean 4ft SE swell, gentle offshore wind from the SSW. A nice little session to get back into it. Thursday the 6th is glassy in the morning – 3ft, dead calm. Fun little clean ones.
But the real second standout is Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th of August. Sunday the 9th brings 6ft to 7ft of NE swell, clean offshore wind, and then flat calm, glassy conditions in the afternoon. That’s a magical call. Then Monday the 10th is the big one: 7ft to 7ft NNE swell, 10-second period, with a strong, clean offshore breeze from the SSW. Energy over 1000. That’s a powerful, clean swell for the experienced crew. The point break is your best bet.
Bottom line: Tuesday the 28th of July is the standout in the first week, and Monday the 10th of August is the long-range promise. The rest is a lot of flat or messy water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed morning, strong winds from the NNW by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 472 | 522 | 560 | 679 | 722 | 760 | 1724 | 1806 | 1457 | 1126 | 952 | 802 | 541 | 401 | 331 | 993 | 1508 | 413 | 836 | 675 | 217 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:34PM1.90m | 4:32AM1.84m | 5:26PM1.93m | 5:23AM1.86m | 6:11PM1.96m | 6:11AM1.89m | 6:52PM1.98m | 6:55AM1.93m | 7:31PM2.01m | 7:36AM1.95m | 8:08PM2.03m | 8:15AM1.95m | 8:47PM2.04m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:15AM0.67m | 10:42PM0.79m | 11:06AM0.66m | 11:32PM0.77m | 11:52AM0.63m | 00:18AM0.72m | 12:34PM0.58m | 1:02AM0.66m | 1:15PM0.53m | 1:44AM0.60m | 1:54PM0.47m | 2:26AM0.53m | 2:34PM0.43m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  | | |  | |
 | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NW 8 | NE 8 | NNE 9 | SE 15 | NW 7 |
| kJ | 220 | 522 | 560 | 679 | 722 | 527 | 1724 | 1806 | 1457 | 1126 | 952 | 802 | 541 | 401 | 331 | 268 | 1265 | 147 | 124 | 137 | 217 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | NW 8 | NW 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | ESE 13 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | S 20 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 12 | SE 16 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | NE 8 | SE 14 |
| kJ | 472 | 82 | 23 | 157 | 227 | 760 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 293 | 167 | 159 | 32 | 123 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | S 16 | — | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 19 | NE 19 | SE 16 | SE 14 | E 11 | E 11 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 109 | 5 | — | 57 | 33 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 38 | 74 | 86 | 62 | 13 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 9 | — | — | NW 3 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSE 2 |
| kJ | 381 | 147 | 226 | 500 | 848 | 1576 | 1829 | 963 | 252 | — | — | 2 | 21 | 56 | 325 | 993 | 1508 | 413 | 836 | 675 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 120 | 121 | 18 | 75 | 18 | 6 | 35 |
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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