Whangamata Estuary Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what’s shaping up for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one. We’ve got a long, dry spell ahead. For the entire 16-day window, there’s really nothing that gets the heart pumping. The first surf recommendation doesn’t even pop up until July 16th, and even then, it's not much to write home about. We’re looking at a solid run of days where the waves just aren't cooperating.

We start on Thursday the 16th at Whangamata Estuary. It’s a beach and bar setup, and it's inconsistent, which is a major bummer. There's a tiny 0.7ft to 1.0ft swell from the East creeping in, with a very long period of 12-13 seconds. That long period means it’ll have some energy for its size, but with combined swell energy sitting at a weak 19 and then 31, it's barely registering. The wind is offshore from the West, so the surface will be clean, but there's just no power.

Moving through the 17th and into the weekend, it’s more of the same. Swell stays tiny at 0.7ft to 1.0ft. The wind stays favourable, clean and offshore, but we’re stuck with ‘poor surf conditions’ every single session. The wave energy is weak, never cracking the 100 mark. On Monday the 20th, the wind goes glassy, but the swell drops to a pathetic 0.3ft. That’s not a surf, that’s a pond.

Tuesday the 21st afternoon offers a brief flicker with a 1.0ft swell and glassy conditions, but the period drops to a pathetic 3 seconds. That’s pure wind chop with barely any push. The rest of the week and into the next is a washout. We’re talking 0.3ft to 0.7ft swells with low energy (often single-digit figures), mostly clean conditions but zero potential.

The second week doesn’t offer any redemption. The swell stays tiny, and the wind starts to deteriorate. By the 27th and 28th, we’re getting onshore winds and rain, making it messy even if there were waves. The combined energy for the 30th afternoon finally bumps up to 54 with a 1ft East swell and glassy wind, but that’s still a lake-like wave for a beginner spot.

There’s just no standout, no hidden gem, no session worth paddling out for. It's a blank run, plain and simple. For this area, though, that’s not totally unusual – the forecasts change, but right now, this is it. And honestly, with the tiny swell and clean but weak energy, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer looking to get planing than for a paddle surfer hunting a wave.

Stay patient, folks. Rusty out.

Read more