
Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SE swell with 2,180 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 13s period. 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 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 13s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’re looking at a solid run of swell coming through for Te Araroa, and it starts with a beauty.
Monday afternoon kicks things off with a clean 5 ft ESE groundswell, period a solid 13 seconds, and light offshore winds out of the SSW. The water’s sitting at 60°, which is fairly normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate at 755 – not a monster, but it’s got push. This is the standout of the whole forecast. The break is a consistent beach and point setup, exposed to the swell, and it’s never crowded. Expect very good, clean conditions. If you can get out, this is the session to point for.
Tuesday stays solid. Morning brings a bigger 7 ft SE swell, still 13 seconds, with moderate offshore winds. That’s a decent step up in size, and the energy jumps to 1552 (moderate). The afternoon holds strong at 8 ft, energy at 1703. This is excellent for experienced surfers – the size is getting up there, so it’s not for beginners. The wind stays offshore out of the S.
Wednesday morning sees the swell drop a touch to 6 ft ESE, period still 13 seconds, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the SW. It’s clean, and the energy is still a solid 1126. Good conditions for those who know what they’re doing. The afternoon turns a bit though – the wind swings WNW and goes cross-shore, the swell drops to 6 ft, period shortens to 12 seconds, and the energy drops to 967. The score drops too. It’s a bit of a letdown after the morning.
Thursday is a write-off. Winds are cross-onshore and choppy, swell is 5 ft and dropping, with energy falling to 664 and then 520. Friday is no better; a messy 8 ft short-period NW windswell (8 seconds) in the morning, energy at 1155, but with moderate cross-shore winds. Not worth the paddle.
Saturday morning on the 1st of August has a brief flicker of hope – a 5 ft NW windswell, short period of 7 seconds, but with clean offshore winds from the SW. Energy is low at 423. It’s surfable, but it’s a small window. The afternoon gets blown out.
After that, there’s a big gap. Sunday the 2nd through to Monday the 10th of August is mostly tiny, weak, or messy. We’re talking swell heights of 0.3 ft to 1 ft, and energy dropping to single digits. There’s a glassy morning on Tuesday the 4th with a 6 ft SE swell and 12-second period, energy at 954 – that one looks promising, but the wind turns cross-on in the afternoon, so get in early.
The next real highlight doesn’t show up until Monday the 10th of August. We get a 7 ft SE swell, 11-second period, with a clean cross-offshore breeze. The energy is 1096 (moderate). It’s a good size and clean, but the wind is a little on the side. The morning of Tuesday the 11th has offshore winds again with a 4 ft SE swell, but it’s smaller.
For the long-range stuff, that Monday the 10th is the one to watch, but it’s a promise – not a guarantee. The 4th of August morning is also a solid shout if you’re keen and the forecasts hold.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Thu night, light winds from the SW by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NW 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NW 7 | NW 7 | SE 14 | SE 14 | NE 15 | NE 15 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
722 | 760 | 1545 | 1703 | 2180 | 1126 | 967 | 874 | 646 | 460 | 380 | 843 | 221 | 143 | 210 | 254 | 121 | 64 | 34 | 34 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 8:55AM1.94m | 9:26PM2.03m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:08AM0.47m | 3:14PM0.41m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 11 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
Feels °C | 6 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NW 7 | NW 7 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | W 5 |
722 | 527 | 1545 | 1703 | 1457 | 1126 | 967 | 874 | 646 | 460 | 380 | 288 | 221 | 143 | 210 | 254 | 531 | 469 | 504 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | ESE 13 | SSE 11 | — | SSW 10 | — | — | S 20 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | SE 16 | SE 16 | SE 15 | ESE 12 | E 12 | NW 7 | W 5 | W 5 | SSE 16 |
238 | 760 | 105 | — | 11 | — | — | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 38 | 37 | 111 | 69 | 119 | 13 | 11 | 52 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 19 | NE 19 | NE 18 | ENE 18 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | NE 15 | NE 15 |
33 | 17 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 30 | 102 | 67 | 121 | 64 | 34 | 34 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | S 10 | SSE 11 | S 10 | SE 13 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NW 6 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | — | S 4 | S 10 | — | S 12 | SSE 11 |
757 | 1523 | 1374 | 843 | 2180 | — | — | — | 8 | 50 | 182 | 843 | 1141 | 603 | — | 26 | 2471 | — | 2335 | 1197 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 67 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 393 | 6 |
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.










