Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for the South Island’s west coast, specifically around Wharariki Beach. Let’s get into it.

The next week and a half is a real mixed bag, with a lot of wind-ruined days and some big, dangerous swell in the middle. The first few days, from Friday the 7th through to Saturday the 8th, are a write-off. It’s cross-on, lumpy, and messy with moderate to fresh breezes. The swell is small to moderate, but the wind is just wrecking any chance of a clean face. You’d be better off waxing your board at home.

The real standout, and the only time I’d get excited, is Sunday the 9th in the morning. Wharariki Beach is going to be absolutely pumping. The swell is coming in at 10ft from the NNW, with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 1934. That’s a serious amount of power. Now, the wind is a cross-offshore from the WSW, which will keep it clean. The problem is, this is way too big for most. At 10ft, this is expert-only territory. Beginners, stay well clear. It’s a raw, powerful, dangerous wave.

After that, the swell drops but we get a weird run of long-period groundswells from the west. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th see really long periods (15 to 19 seconds) but with barely any size (2ft to 3ft). The energy is moderate, but the waves will be too weak and straight to do much at a beach break like Wharariki. Wednesday the 12th is a bit better with 6ft, but the cross-shore wind will chop it up.

Thursday the 13th morning is a nice little window. Clean, light offshore from the SE, with a 6ft WNW swell (860 energy). It’s very clean, but not a standout size. A good session, but not the best of the window.

The second week is a story of huge, dangerous swell. From Friday the 14th afternoon through to Sunday the 16th, we’re looking at 7ft to 12ft swells, with massive combined energy readings of 1872 to 3796. The wind is clean and cross-offshore, but the size is just insane. This is strictly for the elite, and even then, it’s a survival mission. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th are still big but dropping, with the Tuesday morning offering a tiny window of lighter winds and a 3ft clean wave from the west. That’s the only glimmer in the second week.

The rest of the run from the 19th to the 22nd is back to small, weak, and wind-affected.

So, the one true standout is Sunday the 9th, morning. If you’re an expert, that’s the session. For everyone else, the best bet for a clean, manageable wave is Thursday the 13th morning, or maybe Tuesday the 18th morning if you like it small.

Rusty.

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