Te Araroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.63° S 178.38° E

Te Araroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Te Araroa sea temperature is
16.0° C
0.8° 

Te Araroa surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Te Araroa surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, ESE swell with 1,599 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s 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 2.1m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Mon 20th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 11s
Best Surf12PM (Mon 27th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 13s
Most Powerful 3PM (Mon 27th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Te Araroa over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, grab your wetsuit and listen up. Rusty here with a look at what’s cookin’ at Te Araroa. It’s gonna be a long wait for the good stuff, so patience is the name of the game.

The first week is a write-off, I'm not gonna lie. Monday the 20th through to Sunday the 27th is almost a full bust. There’s tiny, messy swell with cross-off winds all week, and the wave energy is weak, barely cracking 200 (209) on the best day. Most of it is under 100, which is flat-out feeble. You're looking at knee-high dribble and poor conditions. Don't bother paddling out until things change.

Forget the first week. The first real glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday the 28th. Monday the 27th afternoon gives you a little 3ft ESE swell, but the quality is still ordinary. But come Tuesday morning, we finally get a pulse. The swell jumps to a clean 4ft out of the ESE at 12 seconds, with the combined energy surging to 484 (moderate wave energy). The wind swings offshore from the SW at only 3 mph, and by the afternoon it goes glassy. That afternoon session on Tuesday the 28th is your standout for the whole run: 5ft of clean SE groundswell at 12 seconds and absolutely glassy conditions. The water temp is 61°, which is a touch warmer than usual for the time of year, so it won’t be too bitey. This is the best the joint will look.

The run of fun swell holds into Wednesday the 29th with 5ft SE swell at 13 seconds, but the cross-off wind gets a bit stiffer at 12 mph, so it won't be as perfect as Tuesday. Energy is strong though, hitting 780. Thursday the 30th also has solid 4ft swell with lighter winds. Then we’re back to waiting.

For the second week, the pattern shifts. A new, shorter-period swell from the WNW builds into the weekend. On the 1st of August, there's a 5ft WNW swell but it’s short period at 6 seconds, so it’ll be weak and crumbly. Come Sunday the 2nd, we see a better 6ft NW swell at 8 seconds with clean offshore winds. It’s not as clean or long-period as the 28th, but it's the best of the second week.

The big news for experienced surfers only is Tuesday the 4th of August. Swell jumps to a solid 7ft from the NW at 7 seconds with strong energy (510) and clean offshore wind. That's expert territory, and the shorter period means it won’t be the prettiest, but the power will be there. The afternoon gets a bit messy with rain and stronger wind.

So, to wrap it up: if you want the cleanest, best-shaped waves, make a plan for Tuesday the 28th of July. That afternoon looks magic. For the second week, Sunday the 2nd of August has the best combo of size and clean conditions. The rest is mostly a waiting game.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat night).

Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
ESE
12
0.7
SE
11
0.7
SE
11
0.6
ESE
11
0.8
SE
11
0.5
SE
11
0.4
ESE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
11
0.4
SE
11
0.4
SE
11
0.5
E
7
1.2
NW
5
0.5
E
8
0.6
E
10
0.7
E
11
0.6
ESE
16
0.7
SE
14
0.8
E
13
1.2
ESE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
177
130
126
82
168
55
42
25
31
30
29
28
68
33
73
125
169
214
209
461
Wind (km/h)
25
SSE
15
S
15
S
15
SSE
5
SW
5
W
10
NW
5
SSE
5
SSE
10
NNW
15
WNW
15
WNW
25
NW
30
NW
25
W
25
WSW
20
W
35
WNW
25
W
20
SW
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
High Tide
11:36PM2.11m
12:02PM2.00m
00:24AM2.05m
12:54PM1.94m
1:10AM1.99m
1:46PM1.90m
1:56AM1.93m
2:39PM1.88m
2:45AM1.88m
3:36PM1.88m
3:38AM1.85m
4:34PM1.90m
Low Tide
5:23PM0.51m
5:59AM0.46m
6:12PM0.57m
6:47AM0.51m
7:03PM0.64m
7:35AM0.57m
7:58PM0.71m
8:26AM0.62m
8:54PM0.76m
9:20AM0.66m
9:50PM0.79m
10:15AM0.67m
10:42PM0.79m
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:15
7:13
7:13
7:13
7:11
7:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:08
5:09
5:10
5:12
5:12
5:13
5:14
 mm
15
1
1
3
5
Temp °C
12
10
12
12
10
12
13
10
13
13
11
14
14
14
12
12
13
15
14
10
Feels °C
6
6
7
8
8
9
10
9
11
10
8
8
9
8
6
6
6
10
8
4
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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