
Surf Forecasts:
Waimarama surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with 2,434 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Waimarama this week:
The surf forecast for Waimarama over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Waimarama in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waimarama over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk Waimarama. It’s a slow burn over the next couple of weeks, but there’s a couple of days that’ll get your blood pumping.
The first few days are quiet. Thursday the 3rd sees a little bump in the morning—a 5ft south swell, but it’s cross-shore and the energy is moderate. The afternoon glassed off, dropping to 4ft, and that’s the best of the first day, but nothing to write home about. The water’s at 54°, a bit cooler than normal for this time of year.
Friday the 4th through to Sunday the 6th are dead flat. Tiny, poor waves. Not worth the paddle. Monday the 7th has a clean offshore breeze in the morning but only a 2ft north-east windswell, so forget it. The afternoon on Monday brings a solid 10ft south swell, but with a fresh cross-off shore wind, it’s gnarly and only for the experienced.
Tuesday the 8th offers a small window: 5ft in the morning is messy, but the afternoon cleans up with a 4ft south-south-east swell and glassy conditions. Surfable, but nothing special.
Now, the big one: Sunday the 13th. That morning is for the crazy few—a massive 18ft south-south-west groundswell with a very long 14-second period. The energy is off the charts at 15119. It’s way too big for this break unless you’re a pro. For the experts, the afternoon on the 13th is your window: still a solid 10ft south swell, but the wind drops to a light cross-off, the period is a quality 13 seconds, and the energy is high. That’s excellent, clean surf for the crew who mean it.
Other good days follow. Monday the 14th has a 7ft south swell in the morning with light cross-off winds, and the afternoon goes glassy with a 6ft south swell. Beautiful. Wednesday the 16th is another standout: an 8ft south swell with light offshore wind in the morning, clean conditions, and strong energy. That’s very good surf, but at that size, beginners should sit it out.
The pick of the bunch is a split between the afternoon of the 13th and the morning of the 16th. The 13th has the bigger, more exclusive swell for experts; the 16th is a touch more approachable but still powerful with crisp offshore wind. Both are top-tier.
Thursday the 17th keeps the 8ft south swell with moderate offshore wind in the morning—excellent for experienced surfers. Friday the 18th eases up with a 6ft south-south-east swell and light offshore wind, still very good.
Bottom line: this week is a write-off. Get out there next Sunday the 13th afternoon or Wednesday the 16th morning. That’s when Waimarama delivers.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 6°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | S 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | NE 6 | NE 8 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
620 | 330 | 192 | 102 | 47 | 15 | 61 | 25 | 63 | 28 | 27 | 52 | 57 | 1716 | 700 | 277 | 197 | 96 | 46 | 25 | 30 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:54AM1.49m | 10:18PM1.46m | 10:46AM1.51m | 11:11PM1.46m | 11:40AM1.53m | 00:06AM1.45m | 12:37PM1.54m | 1:04AM1.44m | 1:36PM1.55m | 2:03AM1.44m | 2:35PM1.57m | 3:02AM1.45m | 3:33PM1.58m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:13PM0.16m | 4:35AM0.14m | 5:06PM0.16m | 5:27AM0.14m | 6:01PM0.15m | 6:21AM0.13m | 6:58PM0.15m | 7:18AM0.12m | 7:56PM0.14m | 8:15AM0.11m | 8:55PM0.13m | 9:14AM0.10m | 9:53PM0.11m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | S 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | NE 8 | NE 8 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 10 |
620 | 330 | 192 | 102 | 47 | 15 | 61 | 25 | 63 | 28 | 27 | 13 | 57 | 11 | 700 | 277 | 197 | 96 | 46 | 25 | 30 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | S 10 | NE 4 | NE 5 | S 17 | S 17 | SSW 10 | — | SSW 15 | NE 10 | ENE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 7 | NE 8 |
3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 23 | 10 | — | 21 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 16 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | SSE 10 | S 17 | NE 10 | NE 10 | S 16 | — | NE 10 | S 15 | NE 10 | E 15 | SSW 9 | NE 4 | SSE 7 |
— | — | — | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 5 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NNE 4 | N 3 | NNE 5 | — | WSW 4 | WNW 2 | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 6 | WSW 3 | S 10 | — | NNE 2 | — | SW 4 | NNW 2 | W 2 | W 3 |
22 | 2 | 2 | 9 | — | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 52 | 3 | 1716 | — | 1 | — | 23 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 61 | 118 | 2 | 109 | 2 | 2 | 63 | 82 | 118 | 205 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 111 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Hawkes Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Waimarama Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Waimarama provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Waimarama can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Waimarama 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 (Waimarama) 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 Waimarama 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.
Waimarama is 25 km (16 miles) from the city of Hastings. If you plan a holiday in Hawkes Bay, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hastings. Hastings has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










