Surf Forecasts:
Pataua surf forecast from 17 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, NNE swell with 284 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with NNE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pataua this week:
The surf forecast for Pataua over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pataua in the next 16 days are 1.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pataua over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | N 6 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | ESE 12 | NNW 5 | NW 7 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | NE 13 | E 13 | NE 12 | NNW 6 | NE 12 | E 12 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 132 | 151 | 254 | 131 | 72 | 38 | 13 | 25 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 16 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 11:36PM1.80m | 12:10PM1.81m | 00:22AM1.71m | 1:00PM1.73m | 1:14AM1.63m | 1:57PM1.68m | 2:11AM1.58m | 2:56PM1.66m | 3:12AM1.57m | 3:54PM1.69m | 4:11AM1.60m | 4:47PM1.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:52AM0.37m | 6:20PM0.53m | 6:39AM0.45m | 7:12PM0.61m | 7:31AM0.52m | 8:08PM0.66m | 8:28AM0.55m | 9:09PM0.67m | 9:27AM0.54m | 10:08PM0.63m | 10:23AM0.51m | 11:02PM0.55m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — |
mm | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NNE 8 | NNW 5 | NW 7 | NNW 6 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NE 12 | NE 11 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 21 | 151 | 254 | 131 | 72 | 38 | 13 | 25 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 16 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | ESE 12 | NNW 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NW 6 | NE 8 | NE 13 | E 13 | E 10 | SE 12 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 11 |
| kJ | 4 | 14 | 30 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | NE 11 | ESE 13 | N 9 | SE 13 | S 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 11 | NE 9 | NE 8 | N 6 | NE 7 | N 5 | NE 12 | NE 12 | N 9 | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | NNW 7 | — | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | W 4 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 132 | 91 | — | 30 | 45 | 68 | 44 | 110 | 123 | 44 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 43 | 112 | 54 | 31 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 8 | 22 | 0 | 20 | 29 | 420 | 86 | 395 | 139 | 395 | 420 | 363 | 395 | 420 | 344 | 395 | 395 | 139 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Pataua surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Pataua Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pataua provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pataua can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pataua 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 (Pataua) 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 Pataua 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.
Pataua is 18 km (11 miles) from the city of Whangarei. If you plan a holiday in Northland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Whangarei. Whangarei has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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