Te Ikaamaru Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s cut to it – this is a tough stretch for Te Ikaamaru Bay. Don’t plan on getting wet until the end of the month. The first real surf isn’t until the afternoon of Wednesday, July 29th, and even then, it’s got some teeth. Let’s break it down.

The next 16 days start with a flat, windy mess. Tuesday the 21st has a tiny 0.3 ft NW swell with a 30 km/h cross-on wind that’s just lumpy. No dice. Wednesday the 22nd goes glassy, but the swell is only 1 ft – not enough to ride. Thursday the 23rd is back to strong cross-onshore winds and a 3 ft NW swell. Hard pass. The first real energy hits Friday the 24th with an 8 ft NW swell, but the wind is a near gale at 50 km/h, cross-onshore, with combined energy 537 (moderate). That’s blown-out chaos, only for the brave or the kite crew. The weekend brings messy cross-off winds and tiny swell, and the following week is mostly flat with clean offshore winds but zero wave height. From the 28th of July into the 1st of August, there’s a lot of glassy mornings and no swell. It’s a proper blank run.

The standout window is the afternoon of July 29th. A 7 ft swell from the NNW with a 6-second period, combined energy 319 (moderate), and a moderate offshore wind from the SE. That’s clean, punchy, but 7 ft is expert territory. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have a few others out, but it’s a beginner’s graveyard at that size. Water temp is about average for the time of year.

The next best is the morning of Friday, July 31st. A 6 ft NW swell, 7-second period, combined energy 317 (moderate), with light cross-shore wind. The afternoon that same day is cleaner, with a slight air and a cross-off breeze, same 6 ft NW swell. That’s a more manageable size for intermediates, but still a solid wave. Sunday morning, August 2nd, brings a 6 ft NW swell, 7-second period, combined energy 331 (moderate), and gentle offshore winds from the SE. Clean, but 6 ft is pushing it for the less experienced.

For the best day? I’m calling July 31st afternoon. The 6 ft NW swell, combined energy 291 (moderate), with a slight cross-off breeze and a 7-second period. It’s clean, the waves have some push, and the wind is light and favourable. The optimum swell direction is NW, and that’s exactly what’s coming. The crowds are “sometimes,” so you might have a few, but it’s not a circus. For the more experienced crew, the morning of August 2nd is also a strong pick – 6 ft NW, gentle offshore, clean. That’s a solid session for the seasoned surfer.

Don’t expect anything before July 29th. That’s a 10-day gap from the start with no real surf. The area is known for these dry spells, so it’s not unusual. The forecasts can change, but for now, mark your calendar for the end of July and the first days of August. That’s your window.

Rusty.

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