
Surf Forecasts:
Happy Jacks surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SE swell with 2,407 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Happy Jacks this week:
The surf forecast for Happy Jacks over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Happy Jacks in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Happy Jacks over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Sat morning, strong winds from the SW by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 8 | E 10 | ENE 11 | E 11 | ESE 16 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 12 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
33 | 106 | 217 | 202 | 277 | 529 | 547 | 515 | 800 | 2129 | 2179 | 1775 | 1682 | 1401 | 983 | 766 | 599 | 470 | 370 | 308 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:03AM1.55m | 2:36PM1.59m | 2:51AM1.51m | 3:22PM1.58m | 3:37AM1.48m | 4:08PM1.56m | 4:23AM1.45m | 4:53PM1.55m | 5:09AM1.43m | 5:37PM1.55m | 5:56AM1.42m | 6:22PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:00PM0.47m | 8:15AM0.47m | 8:50PM0.50m | 9:04AM0.48m | 9:37PM0.50m | 9:53AM0.48m | 10:23PM0.49m | 10:40AM0.45m | 11:08PM0.46m | 11:24AM0.41m | 11:53PM0.41m | 12:05PM0.37m | 00:38AM0.36m | |||||||
— | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | |
5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 10 | ENE 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
33 | 106 | 217 | 202 | 144 | 529 | 547 | 515 | 604 | 908 | 2179 | 1775 | 1682 | 1401 | 983 | 766 | 599 | 470 | 370 | 308 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 17 | ESE 16 | S 16 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 15 | S 14 | S 16 | S 16 |
17 | 15 | 16 | 119 | 277 | 20 | 44 | 34 | 4 | 35 | 32 | 46 | 42 | 21 | 18 | 8 | 18 | 33 | 44 | 44 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | SE 13 | ESE 18 | ESE 13 | S 16 | SSW 16 | E 13 | — | — | — | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | S 16 | SW 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 16 |
12 | 7 | 32 | 16 | 21 | 50 | 55 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 18 | 24 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | NNE 4 | NNW 2 | SW 3 | SSW 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 12 | SSW 8 | SSW 12 | — | — | — | — | WSW 9 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | N 3 |
2 | 22 | 1 | 6 | 170 | 284 | 478 | 496 | 800 | 2129 | 174 | 341 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 3 | 6 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 24 | 9 | 0 | 79 | 72 | 54 | 104 | 83 | 90 | 102 | 86 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Happy Jacks Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Happy Jacks provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Happy Jacks can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Happy Jacks 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 (Happy Jacks) 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 Happy Jacks 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.
Happy Jacks is 39 km (24 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.










