Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Gather ‘round, crew. Rusty here, and I’ve got the goods on the local stretch for the next couple of weeks. It’s a tale of two halves, with a whole lot of waiting for the ocean to play nice.

Right now, the pattern is rough. We’re looking at a massive, powerful West swell that’s just too much for our shores. The energy is massive (4536), with a 10 ft swell from the west, but the wind is howling from the WSW at 25 mph. It’s cross-off, which keeps the surface clean, but the size is just plain dangerous for most. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Monday morning (24th August) is a no-go. The swell is too big, full stop. That same energy hangs around through Monday, and the wind kicks up even more. Tuesday and Wednesday are just as messy, with strong cross-shore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell drops a bit, but the wind keeps it ugly. Thursday brings a shift in wind, but it’s onshore and rainy, with a short-period 4 ft swell that’s just junk. Friday is a write-off, with a massive 13 ft swell from the NNW and howling onshore winds. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. The weekend is a bit cleaner, but the wind is still a strong breeze, and the swell is mixed up.

There’s a real gap here. From Monday 24th all the way through to the end of August, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The conditions are just too rough, too big, or too windy. It’s a blank run, plain and simple.

Now, we start to see a flicker of hope as we head into the first week of September. On Thursday the 3rd, the swell is big again, 10 ft from the west, but the wind is a clean cross-off from the WSW at 22 mph. The combined energy is strong (1030), but it’s a big, powerful swell. The tide and wind setup are actually favorable, but at this size, it’s only for the experienced crew. Beginners, stay on the beach.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the morning of Sunday the 6th of September. This is the jewel. The swell is a solid 5 ft from the west, with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, packing a punch (1191). The real magic is the wind: glassy, from the SSE at just 3 mph. Nothing but clean, peeling lines. The wave comment says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, and I’ll second that. The long period means it’ll be a bit walled-up at a beach break, but for a point or reef, this is pure gold. The crowd situation is “never” a problem here, so you’ll have it all to yourself. This is the morning to set the alarm.

The afternoon of Sunday the 6th is still good, with a 7 ft west swell and a light breeze, but it’s a touch onshore, so the morning is the clear winner. Monday the 7th is a step down, with a cross-shore wind and a smaller swell. The second week tails off with a big, blown-out swell from the NW on the 8th, so don’t get your hopes up for that.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a washout. Don’t even bother. The only real standout, the peak of the whole outlook, is the morning of Sunday the 6th of September. Mark it down. It’s a long way off, so the forecast could shift, but as it stands, that’s your window for a proper session.

Stay patient, and I’ll see you out there.

Rusty.

Read more