Te Ikaamaru Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Te Ikaamaru Bay.

Honestly, mate, it’s a bit of a grim stretch ahead. We’re looking at a solid week and a half of nothing doing before we finally see a little pulse of energy. The first decent chance doesn’t roll in until Thursday, the 28th, and even then, it’s a messy one. For now, prepare for a long, quiet spell.

The first ten days are a write-off. From the 13th right through to the 23rd, the wave heights are tiny, often below 0.7 ft, with most days logged as “poor surf conditions.” The water is sitting at 55°, which is about normal for the time of year, but that’s little comfort when there’s nothing to ride. There’s a blast of strong southerly winds, hitting 37 mph on the 16th, but with zero swell to work with, it’s just a wasted day. The combined swell energy is basically non-existent, reading 0 or single-digit values (8, 3, 0) every day. You’d be better off checking the wind for a kite session, because the surf isn’t happening.

The first sign of life comes on the 27th of August. Thursday morning sees a tiny offshore breeze from the ESE at 9 mph, with a 2 ft swell from the NNW at 7 seconds. That’s clean, but knee-high at best. Then Thursday afternoon is the standout of the whole outlook. We get glassy conditions, a light breeze from the NNW at 3 mph, and the swell bumps up to 5 ft from the NW with a 7-second period. The combined energy hits a moderate 168, which is the first real number we’ve seen. It’s described as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” scoring a 1 out of 10. Still, it’s the only window with any sort of shape.

The problem is that the direction is NNW, and Te Ikaamaru Bay is a beginner spot, fairly exposed, and it works best with a NW swell. That northerly kick isn’t ideal. The size, at 5 ft, is fine for beginners, but don’t expect any power or consistency. It’s a short-period swell, so the waves will be soft and mushy. Crowds can be an issue here “sometimes,” so on this one glassy day, you might have company for the few crumbly waves that come through.

After that, it turns to junk again. Friday the 28th brings a bigger 6 ft swell from the NNW, but it’s blown out by a near gale from the NNW at 31 mph. The combined energy is strong at 253, but it’s completely unrideable with onshore winds. That size is pushing just past 5 ft, so it’s getting a bit much for beginners, but with those winds, it’s only for the die-hard experts who don’t mind a washing machine.

So, to sum it up: It’s a long, flat wait until Thursday the 27th afternoon. That’s your one and only genuine highlight – a small, clean, glassy session on a 5 ft NW swell. It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s the best we’ve got in this 16-day window. Everything else is either flat, blown out, or both.

Rusty.

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