Tutaekuri River Mouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the Tutaekuri River Mouth over the next couple of weeks.

First up, it’s a slow start. Really slow. The river mouth is a tricky one, an advanced-level wave that needs the right direction, and for the first few days we’re just not getting it. Tuesday morning (14th July) has a tiny 1ft easterly swell with a short 9-second period, and it’s cross-shore – a total write-off. The water is a bit colder than normal at 55°F, sitting about 3°F below average for this time of year.

We’re looking at a gap of a few days with nothing really worth paddling out for. The swell stays tiny, and the wind is all over the shop. It’s not until Thursday afternoon (16th July) that we get a pulse of life. A 2ft ESE groundswell with a period of 17 seconds rolls in, and the wind turns offshore from the WNW. The wave energy is still moderate at 226, but it’s clean. That’s our first real chance.

Then Friday morning (17th July) is the standout of the whole outlook. The swell jumps to 4ft from the ESE, with a very long 16-second period. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the WSW, keeping it clean. The combined energy climbs to 561 – solid moderate to strong. This is a point-break-style wave here, and that long period groundswell will set up nicely. It’s a river bar, so expect it to handle that long-period energy well. A good session for the advanced crew. Friday afternoon gets a bit ugly with the onshore wind, so get in early.

Saturday morning (18th July) still has 4ft ESE swell, offshore WNW wind, and clean conditions, but the energy drops a little to 478. It’s a solid option, but not quite the standout of Friday.

The next real highlight is a weird one. On Thursday morning (23rd July), we get a tiny 3ft easterly windswell with a short 7-second period, but the wind is glassy. It’s a rare, clean moment for a weak wave, but the energy is low at 96. Then Thursday afternoon, the swell jumps to 5ft from the ENE, still short period at 7 seconds, and the energy hits 330. The wind is onshore, so it’s not clean, but it’s a sign of things to come.

From Friday (24th July) onwards, the swell gets big. Too big for the river mouth. We’re looking at 6ft, then 7ft, and by Saturday afternoon (25th July) it’s 12ft from the E with a 12-second period. The energy is massive – 5073 – but it’s coming with strong cross-onshore wind and rain. This is expert-only territory, and even then the wind is going to mess it up. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The final few days of the outlook settle back down. Monday morning (27th July) has 4ft swell with clean cross-offshore wind, but the energy is moderate at 326. Tuesday morning (28th July) is 3ft, clean, but nothing special. The last day, Wednesday morning (29th July), is just 2ft and clean.

So, the best on offer is undeniably Friday morning (17th July). That 4ft ESE groundswell with a long 16-second period and light offshore wind is the pick of the bunch. The Tutaekuri River Mouth is a consistent spot, so it’s not unusual to get a few poor days, and the forecasts can change. For now, aim for Friday morning and keep an eye on Thursday afternoon.

Rusty.

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