Wainui Bay Chalet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s in store for Wainui Bay Chalet. The water’s running at 56°F, which is about 2°F cooler than usual for this time of year—you’ll definitely feel it, so suit up properly.

We’ve got a rough start to the outlook, no doubt. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are a bust. Swell is solid—10ft to 12ft from the SSE and S—but the wind is blowing hard and it’s cross or cross-on, meaning messy, choppy junk. The wave energy is strong, with readings between 1411 and 5006, but that doesn’t help when it’s all chop. Thursday the 20th is only a little better: swell around 6ft-6ft, period dropping to 8 seconds, and still cross-shore wind, keeping it marginal.

Now, here’s the good news. Friday the 21st morning is the real deal. Swell drops to 3ft from the SSE, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds—proper groundswell. And the wind? Light offshore from the NW at 6 mph, so it’s clean glass. This is the standout window. That long-period SSE swell will produce those long, lined-up waves this exposed break loves; you’ll get sets, then long lulls, easy paddling. The wave energy is moderate at 660, but with clean offshore wind, quality is high. For intermediates, this is your session. This break is very consistent, so you’ll get plenty of waves. Crowds can show up sometimes, so be ready for company.

Saturday the 22nd keeps the offshore flow (NW 12 mph morning, WNW in the arvo), but the swell is smaller—3ft to 2ft, period down to 11-12 seconds. Still clean and fun, just not as punchy. From Sunday the 23rd through Thursday the 27th, it’s tiny—1.0ft to 2ft—with mostly offshore or glassy winds, but honestly, it’s flat. Energy readings are below 250; you’ll be waiting a lot for little reward.

We get a little lift on Tuesday the 25th morning: 2ft, 15-16 second period, offshore wind again. Could be a sneaky good session, but it’s still small. Tuesday arvo goes glassy with a NNE breeze—dead calm, 2ft swell—pretty but not powerful.

From Wednesday the 26th through the end (Sunday the 31st into early September), it’s mostly small and weak, often cross-on or messy. Energy readings mostly under 200, often under 100—barely any push. A few days in early September show 3ft to 4ft swell, but cross or cross-on wind keeps it lumpy.

Bottom line: Make Friday the 21st morning your target. Saturday the 22nd morning is a solid backup for clean, smaller waves. After that, it’s mostly small and average. For beginners, Friday’s 3ft swell is fine, but that long period means more power, so be wary. That long-period SSE swell will work best here, but it’d be even better at a point or reef.

Keep an eye on the forecast, but for now, lock in Friday.

Rusty.

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