Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe at Te Araroa.

It’s a bit of a mixed bag to start. The first few days are pretty much a write-off, so don’t bother paddling out Monday or Tuesday. The swell is there, but it’s onshore and messy, with poor conditions. Monday morning sees a NNE swell of 7ft at a short 7 seconds, and the wind is a stiff northerly. The water’s sitting at 62°, which is about average for this time of year. You’re looking at weak to moderate wave energy here (611), but it’s just not worth your time.

The first real glimmer of hope arrives on Wednesday morning. The wind swings to a cross-off SSE breeze, and we get a pulse of NNW swell at 7ft with a better 10-second period. The energy jumps up significantly (1707) – that’s strong wave energy. It’s clean, but the scores are marginal, so don’t expect perfection. Wednesday afternoon sees a nice offshore southerly helping out a 7ft northerly swell (1356 energy). That’s your first decent chance to get wet.

Thursday morning looks solid with a 5ft ESE swell and a clean offshore southerly breeze. Periods are a nice 10 seconds, with moderate energy (594). This is shaping up to be good, clean surf. The wind stays favorable through the afternoon.

Friday is a write-off again as the swell drops to nearly nothing and a strong southerly wind rips through.

Now, here’s where we get to the standout. Saturday the 11th. This is the best session on offer. We’ve got a solid 8ft SE groundswell, a 10-second period, and clean offshore winds from the SSW all day. The combined energy is pumping (1268). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The swell direction (SE) matches the optimum direction for this break. If you’re an advanced surfer, this is your window. Crowds are unlikely here, which is a bonus.

Sunday the 12th keeps the quality going with a 6ft SE swell and offshore winds, though the energy drops to moderate (515). Still a very good, clean option. Monday the 13th sees a smaller 5ft SE swell with light winds, offering clean but smaller waves for a longer session.

After that, things get messy again mid-week with strong onshore winds and lumpy conditions. But keep an eye on Saturday the 18th. That’s a promising long-range call. A northerly swell pushes back up to 10ft on Saturday afternoon, with a cross-off breeze and excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The wave energy is strong (1128). That’s another potential standout, but it’s a week and a half away, so treat it as promising but not locked in yet.

So, bottom line: Your best bet is Saturday the 11th for a clean, powerful SE swell with offshore winds. The Wednesday the 8th and Thursday the 9th are also worth a paddle for cleaner conditions. The second week looks dicey, but the 18th has potential.

Stay safe, and pick your windows.
Rusty

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