Surf Forecasts:
Boat Harbour surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, SE swell with 916 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Boat Harbour this week:
The surf forecast for Boat Harbour over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Boat Harbour in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) 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 9s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Boat Harbour over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards.
Straight up, I’ve gotta be honest with ya – this is a tough one. Over the next 16 days, Boat Harbour is looking pretty flat for the most part. There’s a glimmer of something on the horizon, but you’ll have to be patient. We’ve got a long gap of really tiny waves and poor conditions before any decent surf shows up.
The only real standout is a window around Wednesday, September 9th. Tuesday afternoon the 8th kicks off with a pulse of energy, but it comes with a catch. Swell jumps to 8 ft from the SE with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined wave energy is moderate at best (938). However, the wind is howling out of the SSW at 28 mph, even if it is cross-offshore. That’s big, raw, and blown-out – strictly for the experts, and even then it’ll be a battle. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session.
But Wednesday morning, September 9th, is your real shot. The swell drops to a much more manageable 5 ft from the SE, period at 8 seconds, with combined energy at 280. The wind swings WSW at only 6 mph, a light cross-offshore breeze that’ll keep the surface clean. This is the best on offer – consistent enough, and with those light winds, you’ll find some workable little runners down the reef. It’s an advanced spot and it’s inconsistent, but when it lines up here, it’s worth the wait. For beginners, that 5 ft might be a bit much, but for anyone with a bit of experience, go get it.
After that Wednesday morning window, it’s back to tiny dribbles for the rest of the period. The following days are all under 3 ft, with weak energy readings in the single digits to low double digits. The wind is mostly cross-off or offshore but the swell just isn’t there. We see a few small pulses around the 17th and 22nd of September, but nothing that’ll get the heart racing. It’s a long, flat stretch.
Water temp is about 55°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year – nothing unusual there. Keep the rubber on.
Bottom line: if you can make Wednesday morning, September 9th, work, that’s your session. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 3 | NE 5 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ENE 13 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4 | 10 | 17 | 10 | 916 | 371 | 276 | 215 | 114 | 70 | 72 | 36 | 17 | 79 | 44 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 36 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:52PM1.53m | 2:18AM1.45m | 2:52PM1.55m | 3:19AM1.45m | 3:52PM1.56m | 4:19AM1.47m | 4:49PM1.58m | 5:16AM1.49m | 5:43PM1.59m | 6:10AM1.50m | 6:35PM1.58m | 7:02AM1.52m | 7:25PM1.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:11PM0.18m | 8:32AM0.13m | 9:11PM0.16m | 9:32AM0.12m | 10:11PM0.14m | 10:31AM0.10m | 11:08PM0.11m | 11:28AM0.09m | 00:03AM0.08m | 12:23PM0.09m | 00:55AM0.07m | 1:16PM0.10m | 1:44AM0.08m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | 1 | 4 | 30 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ENE 13 | ESE 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 |
| kJ | 24 | 26 | 17 | 6 | 916 | 371 | 276 | 215 | 114 | 70 | 72 | 36 | 17 | 79 | 58 | 31 | 567 | 3311 | 3064 | 2096 | 1310 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | NE 5 | NE 9 | N 10 | NE 17 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 15 | ENE 8 | S 19 | SE 7 | S 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 12 |
| kJ | 46 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 22 | 12 | 69 | 6 | 171 | 44 | 73 | 14 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 36 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | S 11 | — | NE 16 | NE 17 | NE 9 | E 15 | NE 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 14 | S 18 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | — | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 |
| kJ | 2 | 21 | — | 10 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 216 | 10 | 4 | — | 14 | 14 | 22 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | WSW 2 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | — | — | NNE 3 | N 3 | — | — | S 6 | S 7 | — | SSW 7 | — | NE 8 | — | — | SW 3 |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 1929 | 1660 | 126 | 66 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | 236 | 178 | — | 56 | — | 17 | — | — | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 1 | 112 | 99 | 134 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 91 | 1 | 1 | 86 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Boat Harbour Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Boat Harbour provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Boat Harbour can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Boat Harbour 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 (Boat Harbour) 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 Boat Harbour 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.
Boat Harbour is 49 km (30 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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