Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and here’s your local surf outlook for Wharariki Beach.

Alright, we’ve got a mixed bag coming our way over the next couple of weeks. The first few days have some real standout windows, but then things get messy and blown out for a stretch, before another pulse of very solid swell rolls in, though that one will be too big for most. Let’s break it down.

The best surf of the entire outlook kicks off on Monday, 17th August. Wharariki Beach is exposed, so it catches the full force of the swell. Monday morning we’ve got a nice 4.6ft swell from the west with a very long period of 15 seconds—that's proper groundswell energy. Combined energy is solid at 859. Winds are light cross-off from the ESE, which should keep things pretty lined up. The water temp is sitting at 57.0°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year. Expect very good surf conditions first up. Monday arvo the wind swings westerly and goes cross-shore, the swell drops slightly to 3.9ft, so it’s a bit less exciting but still okay.

Tuesday morning, 18th of August, the swell backs off to 2.6ft from the west, period 14 seconds, with clean cross-off winds from the WSW. Combined energy drops to 345. It’s still rideable and clean, but you’ll be searching for the better waves. Tuesday afternoon the swell picks up a bit to 3.9ft, but the wind gets a bit stronger—still cross-off though.

Now, Wednesday morning, 19th August, is the absolute standout of the early part of the forecast. It’s glassy—completely dead calm, no wind at all—with a 4.3ft west swell and a very long 16-second period. The combined energy is 875, and the water will be like glass. This is as clean as it gets, and the long period means those waves will have real punch and shape. Keep in mind for a beach break like Wharariki, a 16-second swell can sometimes be a bit too straight-breaking, but with no wind, you’ll still find some gems. Wednesday afternoon though, the wind swings to a moderate cross-onshore and it gets choppy, so morning is the call.

From Thursday, 20th August, things start falling apart. The wind picks up, mostly cross-shore or cross-onshore, with moderate to fresh breezes through the rest of the week into the weekend. The swell stays small to moderate—2.6ft to 4.3ft—but the wind keeps it messy and lumpy. There are days of poor conditions here, with nothing really worth chasing.

The weekend of 22nd-23rd August sees a big increase in swell—6.6ft to 9.8ft—but the wind is howling. Saturday morning has rain showers and 30 km/h cross winds, with a really short 6-second period on the 6.6ft swell, so it’s just a messy, blown-out wall of whitewater. Sunday the wind gets up to near gale force, 55 km/h cross-off, with a 9.8ft swell at 9 seconds. Combined energy is massive at 1673, but it’s way too big and windy for a safe paddle. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Monday, 24th August through to Wednesday, 27th August, the swell remains big—6.9ft to 9.8ft—but the wind stays strong, mostly strong breeze or near gale, and cross-onshore. It’s messy and blown out. Avoid.

Thursday 27th August afternoon, there’s a bit of a reprieve with lighter winds and a 6.2ft swell from the WSW, period 7 seconds, but it’s still cross-shore and the quality is marginal.

Friday, 28th August morning, is another clean window. The swell drops to 4.3ft from the WSW, period 7 seconds, with light cross-off winds from the SSW. Combined energy is 270. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and rideable—good for a longboard or funboard session.

Saturday, 29th August, the wind jumps up again with a fresh breeze and a 8.2ft to 9.8ft NW swell. Lumpy and cross-onshore.

Now, the last week of August and into September—this is a big, big swell event. Sunday, 30th August morning, we’ve got a 14.8ft swell from the NNW with an 11-second period, combined energy of 4192. Winds are cross-off from the ESE and moderate. The swell is predicted to be too big for this break, so unless you’re a hardcore expert with a big-wave setup, steer clear. Same for Sunday afternoon and Monday, 31st August morning—13.1ft to 14.8ft, glassy or light winds, but again, it’s just way too much water moving around for Wharariki. The combined energy hits over 5000, which is extreme.

Read more