Surf Forecasts:
Back Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 3,915 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Back Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Back Beach in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got one spot on the radar, and it’s a mixed bag. The first few days look promising, but then things get real messy, real quick. There’s a solid run of surf, but the conditions will fight you more often than not.
Wednesday, 19 August – We kick off with a clean 4.9 ft swell from the WSW, with a 11-second period. The cross-off wind from the SSE is a gentle breeze, so the surf is clean. The combined energy of all swells directed here is strong at 1107. This is a solid, experienced surfer’s wave to start. The water is sitting at 57.6°, which is about normal for this time of year. The afternoon holds similar, with a 3.9 ft WSW swell lengthening out to a very long 16-second period. The energy is up at 1133, and the wind stays clean. The long period might make it a bit walled at this beach break, but it’s got punch.
Thursday, 20 August – Morning glass at Back Beach is the stand-out moment of the whole forecast. The wind is dead calm, the water is glassy, and the swell is 5.2 ft from the WSW at a 14-second period. The combined energy is 996. This is the best window you’ll get. The afternoon, however, turns to trash. The wind swings onshore from the WSW, and the surf gets messy.
Friday, 21 August – Both morning and afternoon sessions are onshore from the W and WNW with 9 mph winds. The surf is dropping from 4.3 ft to 3.6 ft. It’s just average. The energy drops to 595 and 563. Not worth paddling out for.
Saturday, 22 August – Poor surf. 2.6 ft and 2.3 ft with a cross-on wind. The combined energy is weak (286 to 329). A total write-off.
Sunday, 23 August – The swell jumps back up to 7.2 ft from the W, but it’s a short 9-second period, and it’s nuking onshore at 16 mph. The energy is 1420, but the wind is terrible. This is a kite-surfing day, not a paddle-surfing day.
Monday, 24 August – Here’s where it gets big. An 8.2 ft WSW swell with a very long 16-second period, but the wind is howling onshore at 16 mph. The energy is massive at 3673, but it’s a total mess. Too big and too blown out for the average surfer. Only for the real hounds or the kites.
Tuesday, 25 August – Still big, 7.5 ft to 6.9 ft, clean onshore wind, but the swell is simply too big for this break. The energy is 2290. It’s a pass.
Wednesday, 26 August – The swell drops to 5.2 ft, but the wind is still cross-on and lumpy. Energy is 853. Not great.
Thursday, 27 August – A bit of a reprieve. A 6.6 ft W swell with a 12-second period, and a clean cross-off wind from the NE at 12 mph. The energy is 1092. It’s on the bigger side, but the wind is clean. This is a solid, late-morning-to-afternoon option for experienced surfers.
Friday, 28 August – Forget it. 13.1 ft from the NNW with a 25 mph cross-off wind. The combined energy is 3238. That’s a monster, and it’s way too big for this spot. The afternoon is even worse.
Saturday, 29 August – Back to 6.2 ft from the WNW, but the wind is onshore and choppy. Energy is around 633-700. Poor.
Sunday, 30 August – Now this is interesting. A 4.6 ft WSW swell, with a very long 18-second period, and a gentle offshore wind from the ENE. The energy is 1591. This is the second best window of the whole run. The long period should give it some nice shape at the point, but the beach break might get a bit straight. It’s clean, and it’s worth a look.
Monday, 31 August – A 4.6 ft WSW swell with a moderate offshore wind from the ESE at 16 mph. The energy is 1010. It’s clean, but the wind is a bit stiff. A solid, if not spectacular, surf.
Tuesday, 1 September – A drop to 3.3 ft, but the wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-off from the SE. Too much wind for the wave size. Not worth it.
Wednesday, 2 September – The swell jumps
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat night, light winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | NW 7 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
480 | 679 | 845 | 996 | 955 | 604 | 595 | 551 | 542 | 229 | 156 | 335 | 854 | 731 | 474 | 3594 | 3308 | 2675 | 2290 | 1750 | 1059 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:00PM2.91m | 2:20AM2.81m | 2:50PM2.74m | 3:20AM2.63m | 3:59PM2.61m | 4:39AM2.53m | 5:30PM2.59m | 6:00AM2.55m | 6:42PM2.70m | 7:05AM2.66m | 7:34PM2.86m | 7:57AM2.81m | 8:17PM3.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:20PM1.04m | 8:40AM1.00m | 9:14PM1.23m | 9:35AM1.18m | 10:23PM1.35m | 10:53AM1.29m | 11:51PM1.36m | 12:20PM1.25m | 1:03AM1.24m | 1:23PM1.10m | 1:53AM1.05m | 2:11PM0.91m | 2:33AM0.86m | ||||||||
7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | NNW 8 | W 9 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
480 | 450 | 845 | 996 | 955 | 604 | 595 | 551 | 542 | 229 | 156 | 133 | 292 | 731 | 164 | 79 | 3308 | 2675 | 2290 | 1750 | 1059 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 24 | SW 6 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | NNW 8 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | W 21 |
423 | 679 | 300 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 15 | 63 | 149 | 154 | 463 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 20 | WSW 19 | WSW 19 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
204 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 123 | 125 | 232 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | — | W 5 | NW 6 | NW 7 | W 9 | — | WSW 9 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 46 | 128 | 335 | 854 | — | 474 | 3594 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 104 | 104 | 259 | 110 | 110 | 258 | 252 | 258 | 258 | 275 | 253 | 258 | 104 | 110 | 254 | 110 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Back Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Back Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Back Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Back Beach surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Back Beach) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Back Beach may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Taranaki? If you are looking for accommodation near Back Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Taranaki, consider staying in New Plymouth which is 10 km (6 miles) away.











