Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next couple of weeks at Te Araroa are a bit of a mixed bag, with a standout window that’s worth planning around, but plenty of days where you’re better off waxing the longboard or just staying home.

Right now, the surf is messy. We’ve got a 10 ft swell coming from the NW with a short, weak 8-second period, which is just dumping sections on a beach and point set-up. The wind is howling cross-shore at 15 mph, and it’s raining. The water temp is 60°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. Not a great start.

Saturday afternoon (25 July) cleans up a bit with a cross-offshore wind, but the swell drops to 8 ft and the period is still short. It’s rideable for the keen, but nothing to get excited about.

Sunday (26 July) sees a shift. A new long-period groundswell rolls in from the ESE at 4 ft to 4 ft, with a 14-second period. That’s proper energy in the water, and the combined energy is moderate (472 to 522). The wind is cross-offshore, so the surf will be clean. The size is small, but the shape will be good. Best for the高手 or those on a log.

Now, Monday (27 July) and Tuesday (28 July) are the real standouts. Monday morning starts with a 5 ft ESE swell, 13-second period, and a light offshore wind from the SSW. The surf is clean and well-shaped. Monday afternoon holds at 5 ft, still offshore. But Tuesday morning (28 July) is the peak: a solid 7 ft swell from the SE, 13-second period, with gentle offshore winds. The combined energy jumps to 1528, which is strong wave energy – proper power. This is for experienced surfers only, as it’s over 7 ft, but the point break here will handle that long-period swell beautifully. Crowds are listed as “never,” so you’ll have plenty of room. Tuesday afternoon gets a bit messier with a cross-offshore wind, but the morning session is the gold.

Wednesday (29 July) keeps the quality going. Another 7 ft ESE swell, 13-second period, and offshore wind in the morning. The energy is still strong (1317). The afternoon stays clean with a light breeze. That’s a solid two-day run.

Then things fall apart. Thursday (30 July) through to the end of the first week and into the second week is a write-off. Winds shift to cross-shore, cross-on, and even onshore, the swell drops below 3 ft, and the long-period energy disappears. There’s a gap of about 5 days with no real recommendations. The good news is this area is fairly consistent, so this blank run feels like a temporary lull.

There is a flicker of hope on 3 August (Monday) – a 10 ft E swell, 10-second period, with clean cross-offshore winds. The energy is strong (1520) again. But it’s a week and a half away, so treat it as promising but not locked in. If it holds, that’s another expert-level session.

After that, the wind picks up big time, with strong breezes and even a strong breeze making things choppy and poor. The last few days of the forecast are weak, with small 2 ft swells and howling offshore winds. Not worth the paddle.

So, the call: Tuesday morning, 28 July, is the best on offer. Clean, offshore, solid 7 ft SE swell, long period, and no crowds. For the more moderate surfer, Monday morning 27 July with the 5 ft ESE swell and offshore wind is a great option. Everything else is a gamble or a write-off.

Stay keen, but pick your days.

Rusty.

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