Whangamata Estuary Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right from the start, it's pretty clear the Whangamata Estuary is not the place to be for a proper paddle this week. The first couple of days are just ordinary – we've got a small, weak swell pushing in on Tuesday the 11th, with a bit of glassy morning surface, but the energy is pathetic, sitting at 113 combined. It’s surfable for a beginner on a foamie, but you won't miss anything if you give it a miss. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Wednesday the 12th sees a bump in size but the quality just falls away with an onshore ENE wind picking up. We're looking at 5ft on the morning, but with a short 8-second period and a moderate breeze, it's just a messy closeout. The energy jumps a bit (241 in the morning), but it's not working for the bank. By Thursday the 13th, it's pushing 6ft but it's raining and onshore, and that's just not what we're after here. This is a spot that needs clean conditions, and it's just not getting them.

The weekend isn't looking much better either. Friday the 14th is poor, and Saturday the 15th brings heavy rain and a cross-shore wind, making for a choppy, frustrating mess. Sunday the 16th is where the first real flicker of hope appears. The swell drops back to 3ft but the wind swings offshore and the surface cleans right up. The period stretches out to 9 seconds and the energy is still moderate at 152. It's still small, but it's clean. That’s your window for a longboard.

Monday the 17th holds that clean cross-off wind with a similar 3ft to 3ft, the period pushing out to 10-11 seconds, which gives it a bit more push. The energy bumps up to 180-221. It's a day for the log, not the shortboard. Tuesday the 18th, the morning is still okay with 3ft and clean conditions, but the wind shifts onshore in the arvo and chops it up.

From Wednesday the 19th onwards, the plug gets pulled. The swell just fades away to nothing. By the 20th, it's 0.7ft, and the energy is down in the single digits. There's a long stretch of flatness from the 19th all the way through the 23rd. You're better off doing anything else.

There is a tiny pulse on the 24th and 25th, but it's wind-blown and onshore with only 1ft to 2ft on offer. It's not worth the drive. The 26th sees a clean offshore wind, but there's only 2ft on the table with a combined energy of 37. It's really just a knee-high dribble.

Honestly, for the next 16 days, this region has only a couple of sessions that are even worth considering. The standout for me is the early morning of Sunday the 16th, and maybe Monday the 17th, when we get the cleanest conditions with a small but fun-sized swell. It’s not big, it’s not powerful, but it'll be the cleanest you'll get. Get the log out. Everything else is a write-off.

Rusty.

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