Whangamata Estuary Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the local scene for the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, the first week is a bit of a snoozer. The first solid surfable day doesn’t show up until Friday, the 31st of July. Before that, we’re looking at a few days of tiny, 2ft leftovers that are just not worth paddling out for. The early morning on Wednesday the 29th has a weak 2ft swell from the east with a 13-second period, and the water is sitting at 59°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year so nothing special there. The wind is glassy, but the combined energy is only 89, which is weak. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary.

The first real glimmer of hope comes Friday morning, the 31st of July. We get a pulse of 5ft swell from the north-northwest, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s a bit of a windswell. The wind is offshore from the west at 12 mph, and the combined energy jumps to 372 (moderate). That’s the best of the early days, but it’s still not amazing. The afternoon drops off quickly.

The rest of the week into early August is pretty grim. There’s a massive gap from Saturday afternoon, the 1st of August, all the way through to Saturday, the 8th of August, where there’s nothing worth mentioning. Just tiny waves, poor conditions, and cross-off or onshore winds. It’s a flat spell.

Now, the second week is where it gets interesting, but it’s also a bit wild. Sunday, the 9th of August, looks like a proper standout. The morning brings a solid 10ft swell from the northeast, with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is offshore from the southwest at 9 mph, and the combined energy is a massive 1090 (strong). That’s a lot of power. However, the swell is over 8ft, so this is expert-only territory for Whangamata Estuary. It’s going to be a clean, powerful beast, but you’ve got to know what you’re doing. The afternoon stays good but gets a bit windier.

Monday, the 10th of August, is truly massive. We’re looking at a 16ft to 18ft swell from the east-northeast and northeast, with a period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is off the charts at 6214 on Monday morning and 13668 on Monday afternoon. That’s a very strong southerly swell. The wind is cross-off from the southwest, but honestly, this is just too big for this break. Unless you’re a big-wave charlie, it’s a day to watch from the beach. The period is 12 seconds, which is long, but at this size, it’s a freight train.

The best all-rounder, and the one I’d circle, is Thursday, the 13th of August. The morning session has a 10ft swell from the east-northeast, a 13-second period, and light cross-off winds from the west-northwest at 6 mph. The combined energy is 2638, and the forecast calls for excellent conditions for experienced surfers. That’s the one. The swell is still big, so it’s not for the faint-hearted, but the wind is clean, and the period is good for a point break or reef setup. The estuary might get a bit straight, but it’ll be a classic.

Overall, the first week is a write-off, but the second week is full of power. The standout is definitely Thursday, the 13th of August, for the experienced crew. The Sunday and Monday before that are huge and risky.

Rusty.

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