Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about this stretch of coast.

The next 16 days start off rough. Friday, July 31st is a total loss: 31 mph westerlies, 10-11 ft of sloppy slop, and the combined swell energy is massive (1387-2885), but it's all just wind-chop. Don't even think about it. We get a few days of nothing.

The first real nod is Saturday morning, August 1st. Wharariki Beach is the only game in town. We've got a 7 ft swell from the west, with a 13-second period – that's real groundswell energy (1662 combined energy). The wind is 12 mph ESE, cross-offshore, so it'll be clean. It's a bit big for beginners, but for intermediates, it's a solid call. The morning is the pick; the afternoon drops to 5 ft and goes cross-shore, so it'll get messy.

Sunday the 2nd is a big drop: 3 ft in the morning with a light southerly offshore breeze – glassy, clean, but tiny. Combined energy is only 211, so it's a longboard morning. The afternoon shrinks to 2 ft, not worth it.

Monday the 3rd is a cruel tease. A big 8-8 ft swell from the west, with a very long 19-second period, and the combined energy hits 4052. But the wind is screaming 31-34 mph WSW near gale, cross-offshore. It'll be clean, but it's a washing machine – only for the insane or the kite crew. The power is there, but it's howling.

Tuesday the 4th, we get a 5 ft swell from the west, 16-second period, moderate energy (1120), but the wind is a cross-shore 9 mph from the ENE. It's marginal, but you could find a corner. The afternoon is a messy cross-onshore, so hit it early.

Wednesday the 5th is the real gem. The morning is a tiny 3 ft, but the afternoon… magic. Wharariki Beach on Wednesday afternoon is glassy – zero wind, a clean 3 ft swell from the west with a 13-second period (264 energy). It's small, but it will be absolutely perfect, peeling lines. That's the session to circle.

Thursday the 6th brings a 8 ft NNW swell (8-second period – short period windswell) with a 16 mph ESE cross-offshore breeze. Combined energy is 709. It'll be clean and punchy, but that short period means it'll be a bit fat. Good for a quick hit. The afternoon drops to 6 ft and goes cross-shore.

Then we hit a long, dry spell. From Friday the 7th through to the end of the forecast, it's a grim run of tiny swell (1.0 ft to 4 ft) and howling SE to ESE winds (28-34 mph) that are cross-offshore but so strong it's just unpleasant. The combined energy is mostly under 200, and the big days like the 14th and 15th of August have a 22-second period groundswell, but the wind is a near gale, so it's just a blown-out mess. That's a solid 8 days of no good.

So, the best on offer: Saturday morning, August 1st for a solid, clean 7 ft west swell. And the absolute standout is Wednesday afternoon, August 5th – glassy, 3 ft, perfect conditions. Mark the calendar.

Rusty.

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