
Surf Forecasts:
Back Beach surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 5 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore 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, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 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 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 10s period. 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 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+) | 3AM (Sun 5th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 5th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 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, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a good look at what’s happening at Back Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Right now, Saturday afternoon (July 4th) is a write-off. We’ve got a messy 4.6 ft swell from the west with a period of 11 seconds and the wind is howling out of the NNE at 25 mph, cross-off but raw. Combined wave energy is moderate at 514, and the water temp is sitting at 59.5°, which is about 1.8° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s noticeable, but not gonna help the surf today. Score is a zero.
Sunday morning (July 5th) is where things start to get interesting, but only if you’re a solid surfer. The swell jumps to 8.2 ft from the NW with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a strong 1566. The wind is light out of the NW at 9 mph, but it’s cross-on and the models are saying this is too big for the break. That’s a strong warning – this is advanced territory only. Sunday afternoon drops right off to a 3.0 ft, 16-second groundswell, but the wind is light SW, cross-on, and the tide is questionable. Not worth paddling out for.
Monday (July 6th) is another day of heavy stuff – morning sees 8.2 ft from the west at 14 seconds, cross-off wind from the NNE at 19 mph, and a combined energy of 2325. Again, too big for this spot. The afternoon bumps up to 8.2 ft from the WSW, 17 seconds, cross-off at 9 mph – energy hits 3779 – but the same warning applies: this is too much swell for Back Beach.
Tuesday morning (July 7th) still looks solid at 7.2 ft from the WSW, 16 seconds, with a clean offshore wind from the ESE at 16 mph. The energy is strong at 2406, but once more it’s flagged as too big. By Tuesday afternoon, the swell drops to 5.9 ft from the WSW, 15 seconds, wind turns SE at 9 mph cross-off, energy at 1441, and the comments finally say “excellent for experienced surfers”. This is the first real window for competent surfers – still a big swell, but the offshore flow and long-period groundswell (15 seconds) will produce some clean, powerful lines. Best bet in the first week.
Wednesday morning (July 8th) is the first session that looks good for a wider crew. Swell eases to 4.9 ft from the SW, 14 seconds, and the wind is light offshore from the east at 3 mph – that’s glassy clean. Combined energy is moderate at 833. Expect very good surf conditions. The afternoon drops to 4.3 ft, 13 seconds, with a light SW cross-on – marginal.
Thursday morning (July 9th) has a 5.9 ft SW swell, 11 seconds, with a cross-off SE wind at 16 mph, energy at 1368 – but it’s rated marginal. Thursday afternoon jumps back to 7.2 ft from the WSW, 15 seconds, cross-off, energy 2243 – too big again.
Friday (July 10th) is a messy day with a 5.6 ft cross-swell in the morning and a 4.6 ft in the afternoon, both from the WSW with long periods (18 and 16 seconds), but the wind is S and cross, and the scores are low. Not your day.
Saturday morning (July 11th) looks clean but small – 3.9 ft from the WSW, 15 seconds, cross-off SE at 9 mph. Energy is moderate at 797. The afternoon improves to 3.6 ft, same direction and period, with a cross-off SSE breeze – energy 935, and the comments say “very good surf”. Could be a fun, small-wave session for longboards or fish.
Sunday (July 12th) offers consistent 4.9–5.6 ft WSW groundswell at 16 seconds, cross-off winds from the SE
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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.











