Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Looks like the Wanaka side of things is pretty quiet, Lake Hawea is staying mostly still, and the ocean is a mixed bag. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf ahead for a while, but there are a couple of solid pulses on the horizon that could make it worth waiting for. Let’s get into it.

Right, from the get-go on Wednesday the 22nd, it’s flat. Tiny 1ft ENE windswell with no power, combined wave energy a feeble 7, and just messy. Thursday the 23rd is even smaller – 0.7ft with the odd glassy moment but no push. Friday the 24th not much better, 2ft, short period, cross-off wind but still poor. We’re sitting through a quiet spell here.

Finally, Saturday morning the 25th brings a pulse of life. Whangamata Bar picks up 3ft from the east with a solid 11-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll have shape and energy between sets. The combined wave energy jumps to 303 – that’s moderate, with a nice clean offshore from the WSW and a light breeze. This one’s worth an early paddle, but it’s inconsistent and the swell direction isn’t the optimum NE, so don’t expect perfection. By Saturday afternoon the wind picks up to a fresh 30 km/h offshore – clean but a bit bumpy, and the swell drops to 3ft. It’s a small window.

Sunday the 26th drains away to 2ft and light rain, glassy but ordinary. Monday the 27th stays small (2ft) with a long 13-second period, but the energy is weak (99). Tuesday the 28th shows a bit more energy (113 to 177) but still messy and wind-affected.

Midweek Wednesday the 29th is where we start to see something. Morning brings 3ft easterly with a 13-second period and a glassy offshore from the WSW. Combined energy hits 315 – solid moderate. By the afternoon, it builds to 4ft, 12-second period, with a gentle offshore. That’s the best of the first week, but it’s still smallish for the bar and the direction isn’t quite on the optimum NE.

Thursday the 30th morning looks the standout of the first run: 5ft easterly at 14 seconds, combined energy 764 – that’s moderate to strong, with only a light cross-off and clean conditions. The swell direction is east, not the ideal NE, but the size and period make it the pick. The afternoon turns to marginal conditions with a light cross-shore and ripples – still surfable but picky.

Friday the 31st fades to 4ft, messy, and by the weekend we’re back to ordinary 3ft surf. Saturday the 1st of August stays clean with glassy morning and a 3ft east swell at 13 seconds, energy 232 – good for a small clean session if you’re keen. Sunday the 2nd drops further, and Monday the 3rd is tiny.

But hold on. Tuesday the 4th of August – that’s the one. Whangamata Bar sees a jump to 8ft from the north, period 8 seconds (short-period windswell), combined energy 940 – strong. Glassy, offshore light breeze from the SW. This is proper swell size, but note: at 8ft that’s getting big, and on a beach-bar setup like this, with short period, it’ll be powerful and maybe a bit dumpy – only for experienced surfers. Wednesday the 5th stays around 6ft to 5ft from the NNE with a touch more period (9 seconds), still clean and glassy. Energy around 400-500, moderate to strong.

And then Thursday the 6th of August morning: 10ft from the ESE, 8-second period, glassy – combined energy 1324, which is very strong. That is a big pulse. Again, with short period and that size, this is for experts only on the bar. It’ll close out quickly and be dangerous. For the hellmen who know how to handle it, it’s a serious session, but definitely not for the crowd.

So, the best on offer? The clean, moderate groundswell on the morning of Thursday the 30th of July (5ft easterly, 14 seconds, energy 764) is the most user-friendly standout in the first week. And for the second week, the big swell Tuesday the 4th of August morning looks the most powerful, but that’s expert territory. Two standouts, but they’re quite different beasts.

Rusty

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