Waimarama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and here’s how things are shaping up for Waimarama over the next couple of weeks.

It’s a pretty quiet start, with not much to get excited about until later in the period. The first few days are a bit of a write-off with poor surf conditions, so we’re looking at a gap of about a week before things really kick off. Hold tight, it’s worth the wait.

From Thursday the 13th through to Monday the 17th, the surf is either poor or marginal—mostly cross-onshore winds, short period swells, and messy conditions. No point paddling out in that. The combined swell energy is weak to moderate, starting at 224 and climbing to 489 on Friday, but the wind just isn’t playing ball. Sunday the 16th sees a 31 mph near gale, making it pretty much a write-off, though there’s plenty of swell—up to 12 ft with a 9-second period.

Then Monday the 17th brings a big change. A strong 12 ft SSE swell rolls in with a 10-second period, and fresh offshore winds from the SSW make for clean, lined-up waves. The combined energy hits 2417, which is strong, but honestly, this is too big for Waimarama—it’s a beginner-friendly break, and 12 ft is really for experienced surfers only. The same goes for Tuesday (7 ft to 8 ft) and Wednesday the 19th, when a massive 15 ft swell with a 12 to 16-second period arrives, and the combined energy goes through the roof (10336 to 13486). That’s a very long-period groundswell, and while it’s offshore and clean, it’s definitely only for the experts.

The standout window is Thursday the 20th. The morning is the best on offer: a 10 ft S swell with a 13-second period, light WSW cross-offshore winds, and glassy conditions. The combined energy is 4127, which is strong, and the water temperature is about average for this time of year. Waimarama is a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed to the east, so this S swell with a long period will wrap in nicely, offering some proper shape. Crowds are sometimes an issue, but with this kind of clean, powerful surf, it’s worth it.

From Friday the 21st onwards, the swell drops off. Friday morning sees 5 ft S swell with light offshore winds (622 combined energy), and Saturday the 22nd is a real treat—glassy conditions with a 4 ft S swell and a 14-second period, combined energy of 591. That’s clean, fun, and much more manageable. The weekend continues with light winds and clean waves through to Sunday morning, but by Sunday afternoon and into Monday, the surf fades to 2 ft to 5 ft, and the wind turns onshore again.

Further into the second week, there’s a pulse of NE swell around the 27th and 28th, but winds are a bit mixed. Friday the 28th morning looks promising—5 ft ENE swell, 10-second period, with moderate offshore SW winds, giving clean conditions (568 combined energy). That’s one to keep an eye on.

So, bottom line: if you’re an experienced surfer, Thursday the 20th morning is the standout. For everyone else, the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd offers the best balance of clean, surfable waves without the raw power.

Rusty.

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