Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the upcoming swell window. We've got a bit of a slow start, but the second half of the week is looking proper.

The main event is Wharariki Beach. It’s an exposed spot, so it picks up whatever is running. For Thursday the 13th, the morning is a write-off with onshore wind and poor surf. But by Thursday afternoon, the wind goes glassy and we’ve got a clean 5ft swell rolling in from the WNW. That’s a solid start. The water temp is 57°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.

Friday the 14th morning sees the swell drop to 3ft, but with a very long 17-second period and light offshore cross-off wind from the SE—that’s clean, lined-up surf, even if it’s smaller. Perfect for the logs or a mid-length. Friday afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-shore wind.

Now, Saturday the 15th is the standout. Both morning and afternoon are firing with clean, glassy conditions and a powerful 6ft swell from the west, with a 16-second period. The combined energy is very strong (1588 in the morning, 1512 in the afternoon). This is excellent for experienced surfers. It’s not huge, but the quality is top-tier. The wind is only 3 mph, so it’ll be silky.

Sunday the 16th holds similar size (6-7ft) but comes with a light rain and a moderate breeze, keeping things a bit lumpy. It’s surfable, but not as clean as Saturday.

Monday the 17th looks good again—clean 5ft swell in the morning, dropping to 4ft in the afternoon with glassy conditions. That afternoon session will be a joy.

From Tuesday the 18th onward, the swell drops significantly. Tuesday morning is small but glassy, but by afternoon a 16 mph cross-wind messes it up. From Wednesday the 19th right through to Tuesday the 26th of August, it’s mostly poor or marginal. The swell is small, the wind is often onshore or cross-shore, and there’s not much to get excited about. There’s a long gap of weak, messy surf where you’re better off checking the forecast again.

Then, on Thursday the 27th of August, things get interesting again. The morning brings a clean 3ft swell under light offshore wind. But the afternoon is a different beast—an 12ft swell from the NNW, with a short 8-second period, and very strong combined energy (1704). Problem is, that’s too big and raw for Wharariki. It’s going to be a washing machine. Friday the 28th is even bigger, with 10-12ft and energy up to 2953. This is expert-only territory, and even then, the swell direction and short period mean it’ll be a challenge.

So to wrap it up: Saturday the 15th is your best bet. Clean, solid 6ft west swell with light winds. Monday the 17th afternoon is also a gem. The rest of the window is either small and clean, or big and messy. Stay savvy.

Rusty.

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