
Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, NW swell with 2,338 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period with WNW 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 (Sep 05) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. 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 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
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
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the W by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Sun night, calm by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 9 | ENE 11 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 8 | ENE 10 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 6 | NE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | 11 | 133 | 126 | 184 | 379 | 199 | 11 | 191 | 67 | 83 | 189 | 2142 | 1606 | 1010 | 460 | 323 | 235 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:26PM1.98m | 10:46AM1.99m | 11:14PM1.98m | 11:39AM1.98m | 00:05AM1.98m | 12:38PM1.96m | 00:59AM1.97m | 1:41PM1.96m | 1:59AM1.96m | 2:50PM1.99m | 3:05AM1.94m | 3:58PM2.05m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:47AM0.34m | 5:09PM0.47m | 5:36AM0.39m | 6:02PM0.53m | 6:28AM0.44m | 7:01PM0.58m | 7:25AM0.48m | 8:05PM0.61m | 8:28AM0.49m | 9:11PM0.62m | 9:32AM0.48m | 10:14PM0.58m | |||||||
— | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 8 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | NNW 8 | ENE 10 | SSE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | WNW 6 |
113 | 111 | 77 | 47 | 38 | 22 | 199 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1010 | 460 | 135 | 91 | 170 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 17 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 10 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 19 | — | E 9 | NE 16 | NE 16 | NE 16 | SSE 11 |
57 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 27 | — | 2 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 88 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | ENE 10 | N 10 | N 10 | S 11 | S 7 | S 19 | NE 10 | — | E 16 | NE 16 | S 15 | S 15 | NE 9 |
3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | — | 5 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 12 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 8 | NW 9 | S 3 | SSE 8 | NNW 8 | NW 6 | — |
273 | 137 | 133 | 126 | 184 | 379 | 284 | 218 | 191 | 67 | 83 | 189 | 2142 | 1606 | 7 | 140 | 323 | 235 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 91 | 115 | 73 | 0 | 67 | 67 | 75 | 222 | 56 | 39 | 0 | 91 | 18 | 9 |
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.










