Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the ocean’s got cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a waiting game on our hands. The start of this stretch is a write-off, plain and simple. We’re looking at a few days of messy, cross-shore winds and junk swell, with the energy all over the place. The water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is right on the money for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Tuesday, September 8th. The wind swings around to a light offshore breeze in the morning, going completely glassy by the afternoon. The swell is a solid 7ft and 7ft, coming from the NNW/NW with a period of 9 seconds. The energy’s got some push to it (769 and 784), and it’s gonna be clean. This is the standout of the first week, no question. The waves will be too much for beginners, but for the rest of us, it’s time to paddle out.

Wednesday the 9th sees things dropping back down to a gutless 3ft, and while the morning is clean, it’s not really gonna get the heart racing. The energy is weak (98), and it’s just ordinary. The rest of the week stays pretty underwhelming. There’s a bump in size on Thursday the 10th, but it’s short-period slop, cross-shore winds, and lumpy. Not worth your time. Friday the 11th has a clean window in the morning with a 5ft swell at 7 seconds, but the energy is still moderate and the conditions turn to junk by the afternoon.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. The middle of the period goes flat. From the 12th through the 18th, we’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, mostly useless surf. There’s some long-period groundswell in the mix, but it’s small and confused. This is a proper lull, so don’t bother checking the cam.

But hold on. The long-range forecast is throwing us a bone. On Saturday, September 19th, a late-day pulse is on the cards. We’re talking an 12ft swell from the NW with a period of 8 seconds, and the energy is pumping (1902). The wind is offshore and the tide is favorable, meaning it’ll be clean, but here’s the kicker: this swell is just too big for Te Araroa. It’s an experts-only session, and even then, it might be a bit of a washing machine. Still, it’s the most exciting thing on the board, though it’s over a week away, so keep your expectations in check.

Just when you think it’s all over, the very last day of the outlook, Monday, September 21st, has another big pulse forecast for the afternoon. We’re looking at 10ft from the NW again, but the wind is howling and cross-shore, with a strong breeze making a mess of things. It’s going to be powerful, but with that wind, it’ll be more of a battle than a joyride. Might be more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers to be honest.

So, to sum it up: Tuesday the 8th is your best bet for a proper, clean session. Don't hold your breath for much else until the following weekend, and even then, it's for the big-wave crew only.

Stay salty.

Rusty

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