Whatipu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Whatipu. The first week and a half is pretty grim for surfing. There’s plenty of size, but the wind is a mess – mostly onshore or cross-onshore, just tearing the waves apart. The swell energy is huge at times, over 3000 (moderate to strong energy) and even up to 4618 (strong energy) on the 19th, but with the wind howling it’s just a lumpy, choppy, and sometimes dangerous situation. The water temp is 58°, which is a touch colder than normal (anomaly of -0.9°F), so you’ll want a full wetsuit.

From Thursday the 16th through to Sunday the 27th, it’s a rough stretch. Thursday morning kicks off with a 8ft WSW swell (15-second period, a long-period groundswell) but the cross-on breeze makes it all a bit choppy. The strong winds stick around, and by the weekend of the 18th and 19th, we’ve got SW swells of 8ft to 10ft with 15-16 second periods, but the wind is onshore at 12-15 mph, making it look more like a kitesurfing session than a paddle session. The wave energy is massive (over 10000), but it’s all “poor surf conditions”. Most days are scoring 0 or 1 out of 10 – you’d be better off staying home.

The first real chance doesn’t come until Tuesday the 28th morning. That’s when we finally see a change: a clean 6ft WSW swell (13-second period) with a light cross-offshore breeze. The energy is a modest 862 (weak to moderate), but the conditions are “clean”. That’s a solid morning. Wednesday the 29th is the absolute standout. The morning has a 5ft WSW swell (16-second period – very long-period groundswell) with a light offshore wind from the NE, making it clean. The afternoon gets even better: the swell drops to 5ft, the wind goes glassy from the WSW, and the energy is 1246 (moderate). That afternoon is your best bet – quiet, clean, and lined up. A long-period swell like this will be better for the point and reef setups, as it might break a bit straight at the beach.

Thursday the 30th is also worth a look, with 4ft waves and clean conditions, though the energy drops. Friday the 31st offers more size: 10ft of swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds (windswell), and while the wind is offshore, it’s breezy at 12-15 mph. The energy jumps to 2521 (strong), but that short period will make it a bit lumpy and less lined up. Still, a decent option for a bigger wave.

For the best on offer, I’d be locking in Wednesday the 29th afternoon – glassy, 5ft of clean, long-period swell, and a 3/10 rating. Tuesday the 28th morning is a close second. This spot (Whatipu) can be inconsistent, so don’t expect magic every day, but when it comes together like that, it’s worth the wait.

Rusty.

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