
Surf Forecasts:
Bay of Plenty surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SE swell with 1,477 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bay of Plenty this week:
The surf forecast for Bay of Plenty over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bay of Plenty in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bay of Plenty over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for the Bay of Plenty.
Well, to be straight up with you, this forecast is a bit of a rollercoaster, and honestly, it’s a tough one for paddle surfing. We’ve got some serious size coming through, but the wind and conditions are not playing ball most of the time. There’s a really interesting window that pops up, but you have to be ready for a big, powerful ocean.
The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing to worry about on that front.
Let’s start with the first worthwhile surf. On Wednesday morning, August 12th, we’ve got a solid pulse of swell from the Southeast at 10 ft. But that’s too much juice for the beach/jetty setup at Bay of Plenty. The winds are a cross-onshore at 12 mph, making it choppy. The combined swell energy is a massive 1312 (strong). Honestly, with that much power and the onshore wind, this looks more like a kite surfer's dream than a paddle surfer's. It's a pass for me.
Thursday morning, August 13th, is where it gets interesting. The wind drops to glassy out of the South at 3 mph, which is a major positive. The swell drops to a more manageable 6 ft from the ESE, with a period of 8 seconds (short period). The combined energy is still moderate at 576. That glassy morning will make for some clean faces, but the short period means it’ll be a bit crumbly and soft. It’s surfable, but not a standout.
From Thursday afternoon, August 13th, right through to Tuesday, August 26th, it’s a long, lean run. The surf is either too small, too windy, or the conditions are just plain poor. We’re looking at a gap of nearly two weeks of marginal to poor surf. The winds are mostly cross or cross-onshore, the swells are weak, and the energy readings are low, often dropping below 100 (weak) or into the low hundreds. For example, the morning of Thursday, August 22nd has a 2 ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 16 seconds, but with a fresh 22 mph crosswind, it’s a lumpy, messy affair. Not worth it.
Now, hang on to your board. The second week throws a curveball. On Sunday morning, August 23rd, we’ve got a serious swell from the South at 12 ft! The combined energy is a monster 2299 (very strong). But, again, the wind is cross-onshore at 12 mph and it’s predicted to be too big for this break. That is an expert-only day, and even then, it’s going to be a battle.
The best of the entire 16-day window, the one true standout if the swell angles right, is Tuesday afternoon, August 25th. The wind turns offshore from the SE at 6 mph. The swell drops to 5 ft from the South, with a very long period of 14 seconds. The combined energy is still a healthy 1118 (strong). That offshore wind and that long-period groundswell will produce some long, rippable walls, but be warned: on a beach break, a period that long (over 15 seconds is very long, this is close) can make the wave pitchy and close out. For the Bay of Plenty setup, which is a beach/jetty, it might be a bit straight. It’s still the best bet by a mile.
So, to wrap it up: The best on offer is Tuesday afternoon, August 25th. Keep an eye on that Southerly groundswell with offshore winds. The rest of the window is a write-off or too dangerous.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1104 | 1270 | 1024 | 673 | 453 | 154 | 228 | 279 | 342 | 520 | 535 | 661 | 870 | 936 | 859 | 727 | 512 | 432 | 354 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | glassy | on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:25AM1.88m | 3:50PM2.00m | 4:03AM1.96m | 4:26PM2.07m | 4:37AM2.00m | 4:59PM2.09m | 5:10AM1.98m | 5:30PM2.06m | 5:41AM1.91m | 6:00PM1.97m | 6:10AM1.80m | 6:29PM1.85m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:21PM0.35m | 9:36AM0.20m | 9:59PM0.24m | 10:12AM0.12m | 10:35PM0.18m | 10:45AM0.09m | 11:08PM0.18m | 11:17AM0.12m | 11:39PM0.23m | 11:47AM0.20m | 00:10AM0.33m | 12:15PM0.32m | 00:39AM0.45m | ||||||
— | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
5:29 | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | |
mm | 11 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
439 | 1270 | 1024 | 673 | 453 | 154 | 228 | 279 | 342 | 520 | 535 | 661 | 870 | 936 | 859 | 727 | 512 | 432 | 354 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 12 | ESE 11 | SSW 10 | S 11 | E 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SW 15 |
422 | 29 | 40 | 36 | 82 | 133 | 112 | 48 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 26 | S 24 | S 14 | S 23 | E 10 | SSW 20 | S 10 | SW 16 | S 17 | S 14 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
450 | 13 | 11 | 34 | 41 | 102 | 127 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 3 | — | NNE 4 | — | NE 4 | NNE 4 | N 4 | — | NNE 4 |
1104 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 19 | 3 | — | 13 | — | 23 | 11 | 7 | — | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 907 | 779 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Bay of Plenty Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Bay of Plenty provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bay of Plenty can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bay of Plenty 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 (Bay of Plenty) 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 Bay of Plenty 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 Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Bay of Plenty, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, consider staying in Durban which is 6 km (4 miles) away. Other places in and around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Glenwood which is 6 km (4 miles) away, Kwamashu, Umhlanga and Mount Edgecombe.











