
Surf Forecasts:
Back Beach surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 5 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, WNW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, WSW swell with 3,834 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period with WNW 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Back Beach in the next 16 days are 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 10s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sun 5th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sun 5th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Beach over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s on the menu at Back Beach.
The first call is Sunday, 5 July morning. There’s a 8ft swell out of the NW, period 10 seconds, and the combined energy is strong at 1441. But it’s too big for this spot – only the hardcore advanced surfers should even think about it. Wind is cross-on from the NW at 15 mph, so it’s gonna be bumpy and rough.
The clear winner in this whole 16-day window is Tuesday, 7 July afternoon. That’s the session you want. A 6ft swell from the WSW, period of 15 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell with real punch. The combined energy is 1558. And the wind? Only 5 mph from the ESE, so it’s glassy, clean, and the waves will be peeling nicely. The break is fairly consistent and exposed to W swell, and the wind is almost perfectly offshore. Crowds are rare, so you might get it to yourself. This is excellent for experienced surfers.
Monday, 6 July morning has an 8ft W swell at 14 seconds, but again, too big, and the wind is 25 mph from the E – offshore but strong. It’ll be clean but way too heavy.
Thursday, 9 July afternoon offers a 7ft WSW swell at 15 seconds with glassy 5 mph SE wind – but it’s still flagged as too big for the break. Frustrating.
From Wednesday, 8 July through Saturday, 11 July, the surf drops off. Small waves, weak energy (603–790), and shifting winds. Not worth paddling out.
Sunday, 12 July morning gives you a 5ft WSW swell at 16 seconds, energy of 1027, with cross-off SE wind at 15 mph. Good clean surf for advanced surfers, but not the standout.
Then from Monday, 13 July afternoon, things go sideways. Tuesday, 14 July morning sees an 12ft WSW swell with 35 mph cross-on winds – poor conditions. Wednesday, 15 July morning hits with an 8ft WSW swell at 20 seconds (very long period), energy of 9220 – way too big and the break can’t handle it. This pattern of oversized, messy surf continues right through to Sunday, 20 July morning. There’s a tiny window on Monday, 20 July morning with a 4ft WSW swell at 11 seconds, offshore ENE wind at 15 mph, energy of 652 – small but rideable.
So, the absolute pick is Tuesday, 7 July afternoon. Clean, punchy, long-period groundswell, glassy conditions, and uncrowded. Don’t miss it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 74mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNE on Sat night, calm by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Sat 11 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | NW 10 | WSW 16 | W 10 | W 14 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1293 | 1028 | 469 | 751 | 2325 | 3834 | 3213 | 2266 | 1496 | 1028 | 479 | 458 | 774 | 679 | 1898 | 1491 | 2120 | 1048 | 715 | 619 | 515 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:41AM3.31m | 1:05PM3.08m | 1:20AM3.23m | 1:48PM3.01m | 2:04AM3.14m | 2:35PM2.94m | 2:52AM3.05m | 3:26PM2.89m | 3:47AM2.99m | 4:28PM2.87m | 4:51AM2.96m | 5:45PM2.92m | 6:06AM2.99m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:02AM0.76m | 7:15PM0.78m | 7:44AM0.78m | 7:59PM0.86m | 8:28AM0.81m | 8:48PM0.94m | 9:16AM0.85m | 9:42PM1.00m | 10:10AM0.89m | 10:45PM1.03m | 11:17AM0.90m | 00:02AM0.99m | 12:36PM0.84m | ||||||||
— | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | |
— | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | |
mm | 41 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 5 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | NW 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 14 | N 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
1293 | 1028 | 325 | 751 | 2325 | 2093 | 3213 | 2266 | 1496 | 1028 | 479 | 458 | 774 | 592 | 1898 | 1491 | 2120 | 1048 | 715 | 619 | 515 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 20 | WSW 18 | NNW 9 | W 15 | S 5 | WSW 17 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | W 21 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | SSW 9 | WSW 19 | — | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 |
119 | 413 | 252 | 447 | 8 | 3834 | 690 | 211 | 62 | 11 | 36 | 125 | 322 | 679 | 86 | 940 | — | 204 | 149 | 128 | 251 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | — | WSW 16 | W 24 | — | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | W 23 | W 21 | S 10 | — | — | SSW 8 | — | SSW 7 |
53 | — | 469 | 11 | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 42 | 233 | 47 | — | — | 24 | — | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | — | — | N 8 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 9 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SSW 8 | — | — | S 10 | S 4 | S 3 | S 8 | S 3 |
628 | — | — | 187 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | 86 | 121 | 39 | 85 | — | — | 273 | 24 | 5 | 43 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 120 | 88 | 8 | 0 | 27 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 193 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











