
Surf Forecasts:
Boat Harbour surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, ESE swell with 1,466 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period with ESE 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 16s 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 1.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 21s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Boat Harbour over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here with a look at what’s cooking over the next couple of weeks.
This is a pretty unique one – we’ve got a solid, long-period groundswell setting up, but it’s only for the gnarliest of the gnar. The whole forecast is really just about one break: Boat Harbour (reef, advanced). If you’re not an expert, you might as well keep the board in the car for the next 16 days.
We kick off on Friday the 17th with real muscle. The swell is a clean 6 ft from the ESE, with a very long 16-second period. That’s a lot of energy – the combined energy reading is 1466, which is strong. The wind is absolutely glassy in the morning. That’s the standout moment. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there. The only catch? This break is inconsistent, it’s a reef, and it’s for advanced surfers only. At 6 ft with that period, it’s going to be legit, and it will be breaking straight at the reef – not a beach break, so it should hold shape. Expect crowds sometimes.
After that first morning, the wind starts to mess with things. By Friday afternoon we get a cross-on, and quality drops. The swell holds through the weekend, dropping from 5 ft to 4 ft, but the wind stays mostly cross-off or light, keeping things clean. The energy drops from 943 down to 373 (moderate). It’s still surfable, but it’s not the same as that Friday morning glass.
Then we hit a big dry spell. From Monday the 21st all the way through to the end of the month, the swell just gets tiny – 2 ft, 1 ft, 1.0 ft – with very weak energy (mostly two-digit numbers). There’s a couple of glassy moments, but the waves are just too small to get excited about. That’s about a week and a half of nothing really worth paddling out for.
There’s a flicker of hope on Sunday the 26th in the afternoon. The swell bumps back up to 3 ft, period 13 seconds, and the wind goes cross-off with a slight air. Energy is 310 (moderate). It’s clean, but still small. Then on Tuesday the 28th afternoon, we see 4 ft at 11 seconds with a light cross-off and clean conditions. Energy is 350. That’s maybe the second-best session of the whole run, but it’s a long way off.
Looking further out, Saturday the 1st of August shows a clean 3 ft from the ESE with light wind. It’s a good sign, but it’s two weeks away, so don’t hold your breath.
So, to sum it up: the only real standout is Friday the 17th morning at Boat Harbour – 6 ft, 16-second period, glassy. That’s your golden window. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too far out to trust.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
988 | 1466 | 1376 | 1121 | 943 | 777 | 586 | 390 | 373 | 278 | 203 | 156 | 130 | 95 | 95 | 65 | 37 | 35 | 20 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:43AM1.57m | 8:13PM1.71m | 8:39AM1.55m | 9:06PM1.67m | 9:34AM1.52m | 9:59PM1.61m | 10:28AM1.48m | 10:50PM1.54m | 11:20AM1.44m | 11:40PM1.47m | 12:12PM1.40m | 00:30AM1.40m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:40AM0.01m | 1:57PM-0.02m | 2:36AM0.01m | 2:53PM0.01m | 3:30AM0.02m | 3:47PM0.06m | 4:21AM0.06m | 4:39PM0.12m | 5:11AM0.11m | 5:31PM0.19m | 6:00AM0.16m | 6:22PM0.25m | |||||||
— | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | S 21 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 19 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 11 |
988 | 1466 | 1376 | 1121 | 943 | 777 | 4220 | 2377 | 1702 | 1273 | 1293 | 1208 | 3539 | 2488 | 1730 | 986 | 468 | 359 | 213 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 6 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
20 | 21 | 273 | 308 | 350 | 276 | 586 | 390 | 373 | 278 | 203 | 156 | 130 | 95 | 95 | 65 | 37 | 35 | 20 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | S 15 | S 19 | S 15 | S 28 | S 24 | — | — | — | — | — | S 20 | — | E 4 | — | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | ESE 12 |
4 | 42 | 110 | 205 | 15 | 1129 | — | — | — | — | — | 380 | — | 14 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | SE 4 | — | — | N 2 | NNW 2 | — | SSW 3 |
29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | 28 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










