Surf Forecasts:
Te Araroa surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, WNW swell with 72 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period with NE 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Te Araroa in the next 16 days are 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, the surf gods have been a bit quiet around Te Araroa lately, but there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon if you’re willing to wait. Honestly, the next week and a half are a write-off for any kind of decent paddle session. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off, and the swell is tiny, weak, and messy. We’re looking at a lot of waist-high or smaller slop with periods under 8 seconds. It’s a long, flat spell from now until the 22nd of September. You’ll see a few moments of clean, glassy water, but with next to no swell energy to push you around, it’s just a flat lake.
The one real standout, and the only time I’d get excited, is a window that builds through the 22nd and 23rd of September. That’s over a week away, so keep it in the back of your mind. On Tuesday the 22nd in the afternoon, the wind is set to go glassy, and we’ll see a 5 ft swell pushing in from the NNE with an 8-second period. The combined energy hits 333, which is a solid, punchy wall of water. It’s back to the usual Te Araroa break, and it’s a consistent spot, so it rarely stays flat forever. This is where the water temperature is sitting at 58°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.
But the real jewel is Wednesday the 23rd of September. The morning brings a 7 ft swell from the NNE, period 10 seconds, and a clean offshore wind from the west. The energy is strong at 857. By the afternoon, it’s going to be pumping. The swell hits 8 ft from the same direction, period 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 1234. The wind is predicted to be glassy. That’s a full-on, clean, powerful swell. For experienced surfers, that afternoon session is the best on offer. Keep in mind, at 8 ft, this is no longer a beginner wave. It’s expert territory.
The following day, the 24th, the swell gets even bigger, hitting 12 ft, but it’s coming with a strong cross-onshore wind from the NNW, which will chop it up badly. It’s too big and messy to be fun for surfing. After that, the wind stays rough and the swell drops off.
So, the plan is simple: wait out the flat spell, and pencil in the 23rd of September as the day to go. It’s the one true standout.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | NE 10 | NE 13 | NE 14 | WNW 5 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | WNW 5 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 46 | 45 | 62 | 66 | 72 | 61 | 61 | 60 | 41 | 39 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 56 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:52PM2.15m | 6:13AM1.99m | 6:41PM2.15m | 7:07AM2.04m | 7:28PM2.12m | 7:56AM2.07m | 8:15PM2.08m | 8:41AM2.07m | 9:01PM2.04m | 9:26AM2.05m | 9:46PM2.01m | 10:10AM2.01m | 10:28PM1.97m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:13AM0.45m | 12:26PM0.41m | 1:06AM0.39m | 1:20PM0.39m | 1:55AM0.34m | 2:11PM0.38m | 2:41AM0.32m | 2:58PM0.40m | 3:24AM0.34m | 3:42PM0.43m | 4:07AM0.38m | 4:24PM0.49m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — |
mm | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 15 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NE 9 | NE 9 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 11 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 |
| kJ | 45 | 18 | 14 | 39 | 39 | 111 | 64 | 20 | 71 | 101 | 26 | 157 | 103 | 64 | 28 | 24 | 13 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | SE 7 | NE 9 | NW 5 | SE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 13 | WNW 6 | NE 13 | SSE 11 | NE 12 | WNW 5 | NE 12 | E 9 | E 8 | NE 13 | NE 12 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 24 | 27 | 38 | 9 | 7 | 27 | 61 | 17 | 41 | 105 | 23 | 9 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 26 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 14 | NE 10 | NE 13 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 8 | NE 13 | SE 16 | NE 12 | SSE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 8 | NE 11 | ENE 13 | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | E 14 |
| kJ | 31 | 45 | 62 | 66 | 27 | 61 | 17 | 60 | 67 | 39 | 26 | 23 | 7 | 19 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | — | SE 7 | SSE 4 | WNW 5 | S 6 | SSE 6 | — | WNW 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 7 | — | WNW 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 46 | — | 27 | 5 | 72 | 42 | 42 | — | 41 | 17 | 83 | — | 2 | 8 | 56 | 161 | 173 | 214 | 434 | 407 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 171 | 47 | 6 | 120 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 67 | 67 | 75 | 115 |
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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