Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, grab a cuppa, ‘cause I’m gonna level with ya. The next 16 days at Te Araroa are a proper mixed bag, but I’ll walk you through it so you don’t waste your time.

Straight off the bat, we’ve got a long dry spell. From Tuesday the 25th of August right through to Sunday the 30th, it’s rubbish. Tiny swell, mostly under 1 ft, with cross-off or onshore breezes. The combined wave energy is basically a whisper, around 20 to 44. It’s just not worth paddling out. Monday the 31st isn’t much better – a little bump from the NNE, but the cross-on wind kills any chance of a decent wave.

Then, on Tuesday the 1st of September, we get a bit of life. Light offshore wind from the west, clean conditions, and a 4 ft swell from the NE with a 10-second period. The combined energy jumps to 229, which is proper moderate. That Tuesday morning window is the closest we get to a decent paddle in the first week-and-a-bit. It’s still only marginal, so keep your expectations in check.

The real standout, and I mean the only true highlight in this whole 16-day run, is Wednesday the 9th of September. We see a NW swell pushing 6 ft in the morning, with a period of 6 seconds. The combined energy clocks in at 192, so it’s a moderate push. But here’s the kicker: by Wednesday afternoon, that swell jumps to 8 ft from the NW, with energy hitting 627 – that’s strong. This is a proper punch, but the wind swings cross-onshore from the NW at 15 mph, which makes it choppy. For experienced surfers only, and even then, it’ll be a battle. The break is a beach and point setup, so that NW swell could offer some decent lines when the wind lets up, but it’s not going to be glassy.

Bottom line: if you’re chasing quality, the 9th of September morning is your best bet, but it’s a long way off, so don’t hold your breath. Most of the run is flat or blown out. Not a classic Te Araroa window, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Forecasts can flip, but right now, it’s a patience game.

Rusty.

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