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Surf Forecasts:
Waiapu River surfForecast / East Cape / New Zealand
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Sunday 17 May 2026 NZSTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Waiapu River surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Waiapu River sea temperature is
17.4° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Waiapu River this week:
The surf forecast for Waiapu River over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 20) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Waiapu River in the next 16 days are 1.8m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 24) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Friday (May 22) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Wed 20th May) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 23rd May) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 24th May) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waiapu River over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri night, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 17 | Monday 18 | Tuesday 19 | Wednesday 20 | Thursday 21 | Friday 22 | Saturday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 11 | |
87 | 123 | 137 | 339 | 349 | 135 | 85 | 85 | 47 | 70 | 49 | 34 | 22 | 34 | 50 | 91 | 61 | 154 | 149 | 279 | 487 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | |
High Tide | 6:33PM1.76m | 6:53AM1.71m | 7:27PM1.82m | 7:48AM1.73m | 8:22PM1.84m | 8:43AM1.72m | 9:16PM1.84m | 9:39AM1.68m | 10:12PM1.80m | 10:37AM1.63m | 11:08PM1.74m | 11:35AM1.57m | 00:04AM1.68m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:16PM0.01m | 00:49AM0.09m | 1:11PM-0.03m | 1:45AM0.05m | 2:05PM-0.05m | 2:41AM0.04m | 3:00PM-0.04m | 3:37AM0.05m | 3:55PM-0.00m | 4:34AM0.07m | 4:51PM0.06m | 5:30AM0.11m | 5:47PM0.12m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 4:59 | — |
1 | 1 | — | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | ENE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 5 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 8 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 11 |
 kJ | 57 | 56 | 36 | 91 | 95 | 64 | 35 | 36 | 20 | 70 | 49 | 34 | 19 | 34 | 50 | 91 | 61 | 154 | 149 | 149 | 487 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 18 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 5 | SE 10 | ENE 9 | SSE 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | NE 10 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 46 | 47 | 30 | 35 | 35 | 16 | 27 | 33 | 47 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 22 | 12 | 14 | 45 | 38 | 47 | 30 | 68 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | S 17 | E 15 | SSE 10 | SE 14 | ENE 10 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 6 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 12 | SSE 12 | E 11 | NE 9 | S 16 | SE 14 | SE 9 | S 8 |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 8 | 38 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 3 | 31 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | N 3 | N 3 | NNW 3 | — | NE 8 | — |
| kJ | 87 | 123 | 137 | 339 | 349 | 135 | 85 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 279 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 57 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Cape | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Waiapu River surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Waiapu River Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Waiapu River provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Waiapu River can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Waiapu River 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 (Waiapu River) 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 Waiapu River 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 Waiapu River, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in East Cape, consider staying in Gisborne which is 108 km (67 miles) away.
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