Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty.

Alright, let’s break down what’s heading for Wharariki Beach (Wairaiki-Beach). The next 16 days start off slow and then go pretty big, but the wind is gonna be a problem for most of it – it’s a rough run through the first week with only a couple moments that’ll get the blood pumping for the right surfer.

The first proper window is on the morning of Saturday the 5th. There’s a 10ft swell from the west with a 14-second period – real groundswell. The wind is cross-off and clean, but that size is into serious territory – only for experienced surfers on an exposed beach. The combined energy is strong (3647), so there’s a heap of power. Water temp is 57°F, pretty normal for this time of year.

From Saturday afternoon through the end of the first week, it’s a mess – near gale to strong winds, mostly cross-onshore, with swell hanging around 8ft to 13ft. Too big and too lumpy for a good paddle.

The middle of the second week gives a little break. On the morning of Tuesday the 15th, the swell drops right down to 3ft with a 14-second period, and the wind is light offshore from the west at just 3 mph – glassy clean conditions. It’ll be small, but for a longboard or a quiet session, that’s a little gem. Combined energy is weak (243).

The absolute standout of the whole forecast comes on the morning of Thursday the 17th. You’ve got an 8ft WNW swell – still big – but the wind is totally glassy offshore from the east-northeast at just 3 mph. That’s perfection for a beach break like Wharariki. The period is 9 seconds, so it’s not a long-period groundswell, but the glassy surface and the size make it a proper big-wave day for experts only. The combined energy is moderate (1050), but the quality of the waves will be way higher than that number suggests thanks to the dead-calm wind.

The afternoon of the 17th keeps the glassy conditions – zero wind, still 8ft of swell. Another very good window for the crew who can handle big waves. Crowds? Wharariki never gets busy, so you’ll have the place to yourself.

After that, Friday the 18th sees a massive 12ft groundswell from the west with an 18-second period and onshore wind – back to being too big and blown out.

So, the one to lock in is the morning of Thursday the 17th – glassy, 8ft, and uncrowded. Saturday the 5th morning is also big and clean but for experts only. The 15th morning is your small-wave option.

Rusty.

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