Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks for our stretch of coast. It’s a mixed bag, a real test of patience, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the blood pumping if you’re willing to wait.

The long-range forecast has some serious potential, and the water temp is sitting at about 56°, which is pretty much what we’d expect for this time of year. No crazy warm or cold pool of water to worry about, just your standard winter suit conditions.

The week kicks off with a bit of a dud. Thursday the 13th has a small, weak pulse of swell from the southeast at 3ft and an 8-second period, but the wind is all wrong out of the NNE. It’s a bit of a tease, but there’s nothing to get excited about.

Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th see a bump in size, with the swell picking up to 7ft to 8ft from the northeast. The energy is building, but the wind is just as messy – cross-shore and cross-onshore, making for lumpy, poor conditions. Saturday morning does have a clean face on the wave comment, but the onshore wind and marginal tide call have me saying it’s not worth the fight.

Sunday the 16th is a write-off with a strong SW breeze creating a messy cross-chop. Then it gets properly serious for the start of the new week.

Monday the 17th is not for the faint of heart. We’ve got a big, powerful south swell pushing in at 12ft. The energy readings are strong, sitting at 2471, and the period is a punchy 10 seconds, but it’s all ruined by a howling 25 mph south cross-onshore wind. It’s going to be a complete mess, a washing machine out there. This is one for the spectators, not the participants.

Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th continue with this theme of powerful but messy surf. The swell stays big, and on Wednesday afternoon the combined energy of all swells directed here peaks at 2752. But with strong cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions, it’s just more of the same – poor surf quality despite the size. You’d be crazy to go out, and honestly, with that much wind and swell hitting a beach-and-reef setup, it’s looking more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers.

Thursday the 20th eases off a touch to 8ft but remains cross-onshore and ugly. Still not your day.

Then the forecast starts to get interesting.

Friday the 21st is the first light in the darkness. The swell has backed down to a clean 5ft from the south with an 11-second period. The wind has dropped out completely, and it’s glassy. The wave comment says it all: "expect very good surf conditions." This is the standout of the first week. That early morning session is the one to circle. It’s a moderate energy (1025), but the clean conditions will make it way more fun than the numbers suggest.

After a flat spell over the weekend, the second week is a bit of a waiting game. There are some small clean days with weak swell, but nothing with any push.

The real gold is on Wednesday the 26th. The forecast is showing a strong NE swell filling in overnight, hitting 10ft with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is strong at 1245. More importantly, the morning wind is light and from the west, which is offshore for Whangara. If this holds, we’ve got a solid, powerful, and clean day on our hands. It may be a bit much for the beginners at that size, but for the crew who know their way around, this looks like the best wave of the entire forecast period. It’s more than a week away, so keep your fingers crossed, but the signs are there for something special.

Everything after that fades back into small, cleaner conditions, but it looks like that Wednesday morning is the one to save for.

Alright, that’s the long and short of it. Stay patient, pick your moments, and I’ll see you in the water.

Rusty.

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