Surf Forecasts:
Waipaoa River surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with 2,598 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period with NNE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Waipaoa River this week:
The surf forecast for Waipaoa River over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Waipaoa River in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waipaoa River over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the Waipaoa River. This is a tricky sandbar setup that needs everything just right, and for the next week or so, it’s looking pretty flat and frustrating. The water temp is about 55°, which is only a touch cooler than usual for the time of year – nothing to write home about.
We’ve got a long gap of small, weak swell with poor conditions. Friday the 4th is a write-off with only 1ft of junky SSE swell (combined energy of 49) and a cross-off breeze. That pattern basically holds through until Monday the 8th – the swell stays tiny, under 2ft, with short periods and weak energy in the 30–70 range. Tuesday the 8th morning goes glassy, but there’s nothing to ride.
The real story starts on Wednesday the 9th. The morning brings a solid pulse of 7ft swell from the SSW, period around 10 seconds, with cross-off wind and a combined energy of 952. That’s moderate to strong energy, and it’s the first proper surf we’ve seen. It’s going to be clean, but at 7ft, this is strictly for advanced surfers on this unpredictable river mouth.
The next standout is a long way off. Thursday the 17th morning (that’s over a week away) looks like the pick of the window. We’re looking at 7ft of SSE groundswell with a very long 14-second period, glassy conditions, and combined energy of 1977 – that’s strong energy. The sets will be powerful, and the long period should line up nicely for the sandbar. This is excellent for experienced surfers, but the crowd factor is likely – this spot does get busy.
Then Saturday the 19th morning brings another one: 8ft of S swell at 9 seconds, clean offshore wind, and strong energy at 1416. That’s a bit more of a short-period pulse, so it’ll be punchy and possibly a bit sectiony at times. Still, for the crew that knows this wave, it’s worth a look.
Best option overall: Thursday the 17th morning (17 September) – 7ft SSE swell, long 14-second period, glassy conditions, and the water should still be holding at about average temp. It’s the best wave shape and the most power you’ll see all fortnight.
Hang in there, the wait will be worth it.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 9 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 41 | 23 | 26 | 34 | 32 | 64 | 61 | 96 | 26 | 49 | 14 | 28 | 39 | 185 | 698 | 318 | 96 | 55 | 43 | 23 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 11:27PM1.48m | 11:59AM1.53m | 00:23AM1.46m | 12:57PM1.53m | 1:22AM1.45m | 1:56PM1.54m | 2:23AM1.45m | 2:57PM1.55m | 3:24AM1.45m | 3:56PM1.57m | 4:23AM1.47m | 4:53PM1.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:43AM0.14m | 6:15PM0.19m | 6:38AM0.15m | 7:14PM0.20m | 7:35AM0.15m | 8:14PM0.19m | 8:35AM0.14m | 9:15PM0.18m | 9:35AM0.13m | 10:15PM0.15m | 10:35AM0.11m | 11:13PM0.12m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 17 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 15 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 17 | SSE 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | S 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 41 | 23 | 26 | 34 | 32 | 64 | 16 | 96 | 12 | 49 | 14 | 12 | 21 | 185 | 242 | 180 | 96 | 55 | 43 | 23 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | SSW 5 | S 15 | S 15 | SSE 9 | S 18 | SSE 18 | E 10 | SSE 16 | S 9 | ENE 5 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 7 | 61 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 39 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | S 16 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 4 | — | E 10 | NE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 12 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | E 9 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | SE 12 | SSE 11 |
| kJ | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | — | — | ENE 3 | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 5 | — | — | S 4 | — | SSW 10 | S 9 | — | — | — | SW 4 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | 12 | — | 698 | 318 | — | — | — | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 107 | 18 | 41 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 28 | 5 | 184 | 41 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Waipaoa River Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Waipaoa River provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Waipaoa River can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Waipaoa 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 (Waipaoa 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 Waipaoa 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 Gisborne and Mahia? If you are looking for accommodation near Waipaoa River, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Gisborne and Mahia, consider staying in Gisborne which is 7 km (4 miles) away.
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