Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, NNE swell with 538 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period with NNW 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 (Aug 30) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.7m and 8s. 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 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down what Te Araroa’s looking like. The first couple days are a total bust—Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are messy with gusty cross-onshore winds, rain, and choppy waves in the 2ft to 6ft range. Not worth a second look.
Sunday the 30th of August is where it finally comes together. Morning is clean and glassy with a light WSW breeze. Swell is a solid 7ft from the NNE, period around 8 seconds, and the energy is pumping at 884. That’s your standout session—clean, cross-off wind, proper waves. Water temp is about 59°, pretty normal for this time of year. Afternoon drops off a bit.
Then we hit a long dry spell. From Monday the 31st through Friday the 4th of September, it’s tiny—mostly knee-high or smaller, weak energy under 100, and poor conditions. Not much happening.
There’s a little bump on the 4th and 5th of September, but it’s short-period windswell with messy cross-shore winds. Not clean enough to recommend. Monday the 7th of September shows a 8ft NW swell but again, cross-shore wind keeps it rough.
Tuesday the 8th of September sees a monster: 13ft swell from the NNW with a 9-second period and energy at 2396. But the wind is howling cross-on at 25 mph plus, so it’s a washing machine. Not for paddling.
Wednesday the 9th of September has even bigger surf—13ft from the NW—with clean cross-off wind in the morning. But that’s way too big for this spot. Over 8ft is expert-only, and the guidance says it’s predicted to be too big. Leave it for the tow crew.
The best bet is Sunday the 30th of August morning. Clean, 7ft NE swell, light wind, solid energy. The other one to watch is Sunday the 6th of September morning—8ft NW swell, light cross-off breeze, clean conditions, energy at 581. That’s a good second option, but it’s a week and a half out, so don’t lock it in yet.
Otherwise, the 16-day window has a long flat spell after the 30th, then a big messy spike around the 8th and 9th. Typical for the area. Stay patient, check the forecasts, and be ready for that Sunday session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 45mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 25 | 77 | 173 | 205 | 197 | 538 | 294 | 199 | 62 | 57 | 96 | 73 | 44 | 29 | 25 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 111 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:56PM1.99m | 7:06AM1.93m | 7:34PM2.03m | 7:48AM1.95m | 8:13PM2.04m | 8:30AM1.97m | 8:54PM2.02m | 9:12AM1.99m | 9:39PM2.00m | 9:57AM2.00m | 10:26PM1.98m | 10:46AM1.99m | 11:14PM1.98m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:41PM0.49m | 1:14AM0.52m | 1:22PM0.44m | 1:56AM0.43m | 2:05PM0.40m | 2:38AM0.36m | 2:49PM0.39m | 3:20AM0.32m | 3:34PM0.40m | 4:03AM0.32m | 4:20PM0.43m | 4:47AM0.34m | 5:09PM0.47m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 2 | 8 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | NNW 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 11 | NE 10 | WNW 8 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 |
| kJ | 37 | 93 | 84 | 47 | 45 | 197 | 538 | 294 | 199 | 62 | 94 | 170 | 73 | 397 | 557 | 319 | 193 | 143 | 111 | 109 | 68 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 15 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | SE 13 | NE 6 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | SE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | SSE 12 | NE 10 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | NE 10 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 |
| kJ | 37 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 15 | 346 | 92 | 17 | 46 | 57 | 96 | 75 | 44 | 113 | 35 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | NE 9 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | NE 9 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 10 | SSE 11 | N 8 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | N 11 | S 15 |
| kJ | 6 | 3 | 20 | 28 | 3 | 52 | 31 | 20 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 30 | 56 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 6 | 25 | 25 | 2 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | — | — | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | SSE 12 | — | NNW 3 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | 9 | 25 | 77 | 173 | 205 | — | — | 181 | 529 | 375 | 232 | 539 | 726 | 193 | — | 2 | 223 | 255 | 113 | 131 | 111 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 118 | 18 | 75 | 75 | 18 | 0 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 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.
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