Opunake
Pull to refresh
Swl 3
1.5ft 13s.
32kJ
Swl 2
1.6ft 6s.
9kJ
Swl 1
3.7ft 9s.
88kJ
Wnd
7mph
16mph
Hourly Forecast
Timezone: Pacific/Auckland
⏱️s.
⚡️kJ
🔮
🌒
Join Surfnerd+ to check
weekend forecasts
Tuesday 2
Wednesday 3
Thursday 4
Friday 5
Saturday 6
Sunday 7
to unlock wave energy
Tap any forecast cell to see the forecast arrows update on the map.
Surfnerd Logo
Join Surfnerd for free to check this forecast
Join Surfnerd to check forecasts, set your homespot, save and create spots and log your surf sessions.
Sign up with Google

Opunake surf guide

Opunake is a beach located on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's a pocket beach nestled between two large headlands that provide some shelter from the elements. The area is known for its consistent surf, making it a popular spot for surfers during the summer months. Access is straightforward, with plenty of parking available near the beach, and the Opunake Beach Holiday Park is right on the shore, making for an easy trip for those looking to stay close to the waves.

The surf here works best with a south-west swell, but you can catch waves from the south and north-west as well. The beach break usually handles swell sizes starting at around 2 ft (0.6 m) and up, which can be enjoyable for beginners. During the mid to high tide, the waves tend to form up better, and you can ride both lefts and rights. However, be aware that the conditions can get messy with onshore winds, especially in the summer. On a good day, the beach can produce fun rides, but it's not always perfect.

Besides the beach itself, there are other surf spots up the coast, like Arawhata Road, which can be good in smaller clean swells. Even though Opunake can be inconsistent at times, it has its moments, especially when the wind is coming from the north-east. Just keep an eye out for scattered rocks and rips if things get bigger, and remember, it’s a beach for those starting out as well as for more experienced surfers looking for a chill session.

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Opunake

Rocky Lefts and Rights
Taranaki, New Zealand
Point break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Stent Road
Taranaki, New Zealand
Point break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Crushers (Taranaki)
Taranaki, New Zealand
Beach break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Fin Fucker
Taranaki, New Zealand
Point break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Green Meadows
Taranaki, New Zealand
Point break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sky Williams
Taranaki, New Zealand
Point break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Mangahume
Taranaki, New Zealand
Point break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Opunake
Taranaki, New Zealand
Beach break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Desperation Point
Taranaki, New Zealand
Reef break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Kina Road
Taranaki, New Zealand
Beach break
Tue 29
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9

Readme

Welcome! If you’re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. It’s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

On the map, click a metric label to bring that arrow to the front — handy when arrows overlap.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Here’s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm — the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

With Surfnerd, no more "you should have been here yesterday"

Login to do spot actions
Surfnerd Logo
Join Surfnerd+ and get:
  • Weekend
    + weekday forecasts
    (vs weekdays only)
  • 12-day
    forecast range
    (vs 5-day)
  • 1-hour
    forecast steps
    (vs 3-hour)
  • Wave energy
    metric
    (power rating)
  • Secondary & tertiary
    swells
    (complete picture)
"Great Forecasts. Nothing more, nothing less."
Wind certainty

Wind certainty tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

  • High certainty: Models agree closely; forecast is reliable.
  • Medium certainty: Some disagreement; conditions may shift slightly.
  • Low certainty: Models diverge; treat forecast with caution.

We calculate this by comparing wind speed, gust and direction from multiple models (like GFS, ECMWF, Arome, and Harmonie) and seeing how closely they match. They are weighted, meaning that some models count more than others, depending on how good they are for a certain spot.