
Surf Forecasts:
Bay of Plenty surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with 1,782 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with ENE 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bay of Plenty in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bay of Plenty over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down the Bay of Plenty region.
First up, the next week is pretty average—nothing to write home about until a late blast of proper swell shows up in the second weekend. Water temp is 71°, right about normal for this time of year.
Sunday the 9th is a total loss. Small, weak swell with a cross-on breeze—leave the board in the car.
Monday the 10th jumps to 10ft S swell with cross-off wind in the morning, clean as. But that’s far too big for a beginner spot like Bay of Plenty. The wave energy is strong at 1571. Unless you’re a seasoned pro, give it a miss.
Tuesday the 11th brings 7ft SSE swell, still big, with clean morning faces but marginal tide conditions. Energy is still high at 1201, but it’s not coming together. Afternoon gets messy.
From Wednesday 12th through to Saturday 16th, it’s a long grind. Swell sits between 5ft and 8ft, but the wind is mostly cross-on or cross, quality poor to marginal. The small E swells on the 14th and 15th with only 8–10 second periods have no punch—combined energy is low (360–577). Not worth paddling out.
But—Sunday the 16th afternoon is the clear standout. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell is 6ft E with an 11-second period—proper groundswell. Combined energy hits 854, moderate but with glassy conditions, the beach/jetty will have some really nice, clean lines. Crowds can be an issue sometimes, but for a Sunday afternoon with perfect weather, it’ll be worth the company. That’s your best bet for the first half of the window.
The following week gets a bit rowdy. Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th are still rideable but nothing special—6ft to 5ft E swell, cross-on wind, marginal. Then Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th are a mess with 22–25 mph SSW winds and heavy cross-chop. Avoid.
Friday the 21st afternoon sees a 10ft S swell, 8-second period, onshore east wind—too big again for this spot, and wind’s wrong. Saturday the 22nd morning is the real monster: 13ft SSW swell with a 13-second period, combined energy a huge 9025. That’s serious, heavy groundswell with cross wind from the NE at 12 mph. For a beach/jetty, it’ll be a close-out nightmare unless you’re a charger. Experts only.
Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th taper off quick—swell drops to 6ft and then 2ft, with messy cross-on wind and moderate energy (767–692). Quality is poor.
Overall: The best surf in the whole 16-day window is Sunday the 16th afternoon at Bay of Plenty—glassy conditions with a solid 6ft E groundswell, clean, and workable despite the occasional crowd. Monday the 10th morning is also an option if you’re keen on big, clean waves—but it’s over 8ft, so not for beginners. The week from Monday 17th is mostly poor, with a brief extreme swell on the 22nd that’s strictly for experts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Sun morning, near gales from the SW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
123 | 118 | 166 | 1527 | 1520 | 1033 | 599 | 432 | 414 | 804 | 989 | 673 | 512 | 432 | 206 | 284 | 363 | 459 | 573 | 670 | 701 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:29PM1.48m | 1:51AM1.59m | 2:27PM1.68m | 2:43AM1.75m | 3:12PM1.86m | 3:25AM1.88m | 3:50PM2.00m | 4:03AM1.96m | 4:26PM2.07m | 4:37AM2.00m | 4:59PM2.09m | 5:10AM1.98m | 5:30PM2.06m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:39PM0.67m | 8:10AM0.50m | 8:36PM0.50m | 8:56AM0.33m | 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 | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 20 | 17 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | E 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 |
123 | 118 | 60 | 44 | 45 | 847 | 443 | 106 | 354 | 804 | 989 | 673 | 512 | 432 | 206 | 284 | 44 | 459 | 573 | 670 | 701 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | NE 8 | — | S 15 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | E 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | E 11 | SSE 8 | SSW 16 | S 9 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 |
119 | 89 | 14 | — | 4 | 71 | 89 | 163 | 414 | 292 | 43 | 55 | 54 | 51 | 108 | 45 | 26 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | — | — | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 24 | S 14 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | S 10 | SSW 18 | S 12 | S 16 | — | SW 14 | SW 12 |
5 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 15 | 70 | 65 | 206 | 223 | 11 | 16 | 38 | 31 | 45 | 31 | 3 | 5 | — | 7 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | — | — |
6 | 21 | 166 | 1527 | 1520 | 1033 | 599 | 432 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 363 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 155 | 740 | 405 | 267 | 54 | 907 | 1245 | 424 | 887 | 907 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 154 | 0 |
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.











