Waiapu River Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.77° S 178.48° E

Waiapu River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Waiapu River sea temperature is
14.4° C
0.2° 

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


Waiapu River surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 12s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s period, SSE swell with 267 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period with ESE swell.

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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Waiapu River in the next 16 days are 0.9m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sat 22nd Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Best Surf 6AM (Sat 22nd Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 12s
Most Powerful12AM (Tue 25th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waiapu River over the next 16 days.


Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the NW by Sun morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
2
1
0
0
0
1
1
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
ESE
10
0.7
ESE
10
0.8
SSE
12
0.7
SSE
11
0.6
SSE
11
0.5
SSE
11
0.4
SSE
10
0.3
ESE
13
0.3
ESE
13
0.3
ESE
13
0.9
SSE
12
0.6
SSE
12
0.3
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
12
0.2
SSE
18
0.4
SE
17
0.4
SE
16
0.7
SSE
17
0.5
SE
17
0.6
SSE
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
170
83
158
135
95
65
39
33
33
34
267
104
31
29
33
76
69
255
148
207
Wind (km/h)
10
NNE
10
WNW
10
W
5
NW
15
WNW
25
NW
30
NW
10
W
5
SW
10
NE
15
NW
5
W
10
NNE
10
W
5
WNW
10
NE
10
WNW
5
WNW
5
NNW
15
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
off
off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
1:01AM1.39m
1:34PM1.40m
1:51AM1.35m
2:26PM1.38m
2:43AM1.33m
3:19PM1.38m
3:35AM1.32m
4:10PM1.40m
4:26AM1.34m
4:58PM1.44m
5:15AM1.37m
5:44PM1.48m
Low Tide
6:54PM0.39m
7:15AM0.34m
7:44PM0.43m
8:04AM0.37m
8:35PM0.45m
8:55AM0.39m
9:28PM0.46m
9:46AM0.37m
10:21PM0.43m
10:37AM0.35m
11:12PM0.39m
11:25AM0.31m
00:00AM0.34m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:39
 mm
Temp °C
12
11
14
15
12
13
14
14
12
12
12
14
14
14
15
14
13
18
19
13
Feels °C
9
9
12
14
9
7
8
10
9
9
8
12
11
12
13
12
11
16
17
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Waiapu River:

join our community of surf reporters

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.

Nearest locationNearest