Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Wharariki Beach has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. I'll be straight with you – the outlook is a rough one for paddle surfing for the most part. We are looking at a long stretch of challenging conditions with only a couple of brief windows that might get the heart pumping for the experienced crew.

The main problem is the wind. For days on end, we’re battling strong, often cross-shore or cross-onshore winds that are going to chop things up badly. The swell energy is all over the place, but when it’s big, it’s way too big for this exposed beach setup, and when it’s small, the wind ruins it.

For the first week, from Friday the 21st right through to the end of the month, it’s a write-off for a good session. We start with a tiny 3ft west swell on Friday morning, but it’s got a brutal 25 km/h cross-off wind that's just not fun. That west swell direction is actually in line with what the break likes, but the strength of the wind kills it. Friday afternoon the swell completely drops out. Through the weekend, Saturday and Sunday are a mess of rain and strong cross-shore winds that will have the surface looking like a washing machine, with moderate to strong wave energy (reaching up to 3677). On Monday the 24th, the swell pumps up to 12ft, which is just too much for this spot, even if the cross-off wind is clean. That pattern of "too big" continues into Tuesday the 25th with a 7ft swell, but then the wind picks up to near gale force, and it's game over. The rest of that week is a mix of too big, too windy, or lumpy cross-chop. There’s a long gap with no real hope for a decent ride through the end of August.

Now, there is one moment that stands out as a potential highlight, but it's a long way off and only for the experienced. On Thursday, the 3rd of September, we get a window that looks special. The morning is clean with a cross-off breeze, but the swell is a massive 10ft from the west with a very long 16-second period and incredibly strong wave energy (4724). That's a beast of a groundswell, and at that size, only experts should even be looking at it. That west swell is the sweet spot for direction, and that long period will mean it holds up well, but it will be heavy. The afternoon of that same Thursday is the absolute standout. The swell drops back to a still-chunky 8ft from the west, still with that fantastic 16-second period and strong energy (3248), but the wind goes glassy. Absolutely dead calm. The combined energy reading is still notable (3248). For a surfer who knows what they're doing at a heavy beach break, that could be a magic session with clean, powerful walls. It’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it, but it’s the only time in the whole 16 days that ticks all the boxes of decent size, perfect direction, and no wind. The crowds are never an issue here, as it's an exposed beach, but with conditions like that, it might not stay empty.

Before that, Saturday the 29th of August offers a tiny glimmer for the less fussy. The morning sees a 4ft west swell with a moderate cross-off breeze, making for clean surf with moderate energy (633). It’s marginal and small, but it might be the only time a beginner could have a splash without getting hammered by the wind. The period is a long 11 seconds, so there will be some push to the waves.

For the rest of the second week, it's a return to the same story: too much wind and a messy sea state. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd of September see more big, clean but unsurfable swells due to size or poor conditions. The final day in the run, Saturday the 5th of September, is just another cross-shore mess.

So, what’s the call? The Thursday 3rd September afternoon at Wharariki is the only true standout, but it's an expert-only game with that 8ft groundswell and glassy conditions. It’s a promise, but a distant one. Everything else is a hard pass. If you are a beginner, maybe the morning of Saturday the 29th of August is your best bet for a tiny, clean wave.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Read more