Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

We've got one main spot to focus on: Wharariki Beach. It's an exposed, consistent spot that needs a solid W to NW swell, and we’re going to see plenty of that. The water temp is sitting at 56.7°F, which is pretty much right where you'd expect it to be for this time of year.

Saturday the 12th is the big one. The standout. We’re looking at a massive 9.8ft groundswell pumping in from the west with a very long 16-second period. The combined swell energy is a whopper (4279), and it stays strong all day. The wind is cross-off from the SW, which would usually mean clean conditions, but honestly, this is just too much wave. For the vast majority of surfers, this is a session to watch from the car park. It’s an expert-only day unless you’ve got a death wish.

Sunday the 13th is still on the big side, with the swell dropping from 5.2ft to 7.2ft in the arvo. The winds pick up strong again from the WSW. The water is clean enough, but the energy is still significant (3502 in the PM), and conditions are marginal. It's a pass for me unless you’re feeling ambitious.

Monday the 14th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning has a solid 5.6ft west swell with a 16-second pulse, but the wind drops right off to a slight 3 mph from the south. The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers, and the combined energy is a more manageable 1388. This is a serious session for the crew who can handle it. The afternoon gets messy with an 18 mph WSW wind.

After Monday, things take a nosedive. Tuesday the 15th through to Thursday the 17th is a write-off. The swell goes tiny or becomes wind-blown chop from various directions. There’s a window on Thursday afternoon the 17th with a 4.3ft clean swell, but the scores aren’t there to get too excited about. Then Friday the 18th looks blown out again by strong SE winds.

Saturday the 19th brings a glimmer of hope. The afternoon session has a clean 6.6ft west swell with a 15-second period, and the wind goes glassy calm from the west. The energy jumps to 1722, and the conditions are considered excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the second real highlight of the forecast, but it's a long way off, so keep an eye on it.

The following week shows some variety. Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd mornings have clean 4.3ft waves with light winds, but the energy is lower. Wednesday the 23rd morning is glassy with a 6.6ft swell, but the period is a short 10 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and mushy at that beach break. Thursday the 24th morning has a substantial 8.2ft swell from the west with a very long 17-second period. The combined energy is massive again (3377). The wind is a clean cross-off, but for most, it’s too big. The afternoon session on the 24th is another standout candidate – glassy conditions with a 7.9ft west groundswell (2955 energy). That’s a proper slab for the experts if it holds.

The rest of that second week, from Friday the 25th onwards, is a mixed bag. The winds get stronger again, and the quality drops off. There are some clean windows, but the consistency is lacking, and the wind often messes it up. The surf on offer is generally for the more experienced crew, and the best days are definitely Saturday the 12th, Monday the 14th, and Thursday the 24th. Keep an eye on that 24th, it could be a gem.

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