Wainui Bay Chalet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee and listen up. I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our little patch of coast, Wainui Bay Chalet. The coming days are a mixed bag, but there’s some real goodness hiding in there if you’re patient.

The week kicks off quiet. Saturday the 8th of August, we’ve got a solid 4ft SSE groundswell rolling in with a 12 second period, and a light offshore breeze in the morning. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. The ocean’s got a nice bit of grunt behind it, with combined energy around 866 (moderate wave energy). That Saturday morning is your best bet for the near future—clean, consistent, and it’s a proper standout. The swell direction is a perfect match for the spot. Just know that it can get a bit of a crowd here sometimes, so get in early.

Sunday the 9th drops off a touch to 3ft from the SE, period down to 11 seconds. Still clean with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the energy’s dropped to 346. It’s surfable, but nothing to get overly excited about.

Monday the 10th is small. We’re looking at 2ft from the SE. The morning has a light cross-off, and the afternoon goes completely glassy with zero wind. It’s tiny, but if you’ve got a log, that glassy afternoon session could be a real treat.

We get a bit of a pulse on Tuesday the 11th. The morning brings a 6ft SSW swell, short period at 8 seconds but with a cross-off breeze and combined energy of 611. That’s a fun, punchy little wave, but the short period means it’ll be a bit sectiony. The afternoon turns ugly with a cross-onshore wind, so morning is the only window.

Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th are a write-off. Onshore winds and messy conditions. The swell is there on Thursday but it’s a short-period NE windswell, best left alone.

Friday the 14th is a bit better. Morning has a 5ft NE swell, but the period is a miserable 6 seconds and the energy is only 335. The afternoon cleans up nicely with a 4ft E swell and a light offshore breeze, but it’s still ordinary.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday the 15th of August, look at the afternoon. We’ve got a 8ft SSW swell, but the wind is a messy cross-shore, and the energy is strong at 1054. The issue is the swell size—it’s getting too big for this break, making it a bit of a handful. Not for beginners.

Sunday the 16th of August morning is a real standout. A 6ft SSE groundswell with a 12 second period, a cross-offshore breeze, and clean conditions. Combined energy is 725 (moderate wave energy). That’s a lovely, solid set-up. The afternoon gets chopped again by a cross-onshore, so it’s a morning mission.

Then we hit a monster pulse. Monday the 17th of August. The morning is pumping 15ft from the S, with a 11 second period, an offshore wind, and a combined energy reading of 6128. That’s strong wave energy, no doubt. But, and it’s a big but, that’s way too big for this spot. Absolute expert territory only, and even then, it’s pushing it.

Tuesday the 18th stays huge, 10ft plus, but the wind is howling from the SW and it’s messy. The whole of that week from the 17th onwards is just too big and blown out for a safe, fun session. The swell is massive, the energy is through the roof, but the quality is gone for paddle surfing. If you’re into kiting, the setup from the 17th to the 20th looks far more interesting.

Finally, we get a bit of calm back. Sunday the 23rd of August. Morning has a clean 5ft S swell with a 10 second period, a light cross-offshore breeze, and combined energy of 730. That’s a very nice, clean, solid wave to finish the run. The afternoon is a no-go with a cross-onshore.

So, if you’re picking your days, Saturday the 8th morning, Sunday the 16th morning, and Sunday the 23rd morning are the true standouts. Get in the water.

- Rusty

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