Pataua surf break

Pataua surfForecast / Northland / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Sunday 24 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Pataua surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Pataua sea temperature is
18.4° C
(Which is 1.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

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 Tuesday (May 26) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 11s. 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (May 26) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Tue 26th May)5ft (1.5m) 10s
Best Surf 6PM (Tue 26th May)5ft (1.5m) 10s
Most Powerful 3AM (Mon 25th May)11ft (3.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pataua over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Sun night, calm by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
Friday
29
Saturday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
3
0
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
NE
10
3
ENE
10
3.5
ENE
10
3.5
ENE
10
2
NE
10
1.9
NE
10
1.7
NE
10
1.6
NE
10
1.4
NE
9
1
E
11
1.1
E
11
1.2
NE
9
0.9
E
11
0.8
E
11
0.6
E
11
0.8
NE
8
0.6
NE
8
0.6
NE
7
0.5
NE
7
0.5
NE
7
1.3
ENE
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1715
1917
2064
2149
802
665
557
461
314
242
274
231
188
146
80
75
48
44
27
25
80
Wind (km/h)
30
E
30
E
30
E
30
E
30
E
20
ESE
20
SE
10
SE
10
SSW
10
ENE
10
NE
10
W
5
WSW
5
WSW
5
W
5
W
5
ENE
5
WNW
10
N
15
NNE
20
NE
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
on
High Tide
1:34PM1.80m
2:03AM1.96m
2:37PM1.77m
3:00AM1.90m
3:36PM1.76m
3:53AM1.85m
4:32PM1.78m
4:44AM1.82m
5:22PM1.81m
5:31AM1.80m
6:08PM1.85m
6:15AM1.80m
6:50PM1.89m
Low Tide
7:44PM0.33m
8:28AM0.33m
8:44PM0.41m
9:24AM0.35m
9:42PM0.46m
10:17AM0.34m
10:37PM0.49m
11:05AM0.34m
11:29PM0.50m
11:49AM0.32m
00:16AM0.48m
12:32PM0.31m
1:00AM0.47m
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:16
7:16
7:18
7:18
7:18
7:20
7:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:19
5:19
5:17
5:17
5:17
5:16
5:16
1
1
Temp °C
17
17
17
16
16
16
15
15
15
16
17
16
16
17
13
16
16
15
17
17
17
12
12
11
10
11
12
12
14
15
14
15
15
15
16
12
16
15
14
15
15
15
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
NE
10
2
NE
10
1.9
NE
10
1.7
NE
10
1.6
NE
10
1.4
NE
9
1.2
NE
9
1.1
E
11
1
E
7
1
NE
9
0.9
NE
8
0.8
NE
8
0.8
NE
8
0.6
NE
8
0.6
NE
7
0.5
NE
7
0.5
NE
7
0.3
NE
10
Energy kJ
832
784
665
557
461
314
242
274
94
145
100
80
75
48
44
27
25
17
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
E
10
1.2
E
10
1.1
E
11
1
E
11
1.1
NE
9
0.7
E
10
0.9
E
11
0.8
E
11
0.6
E
11
0.4
E
10
0.4
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.2
NNE
11
0.3
NE
11
0.1
N
10
Energy kJ
358
313
279
227
186
108
188
146
79
31
31
16
12
19
2
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
12
0.1
E
12
0.1
N
12
0.2
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.2
N
11
0.2
N
10
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
9
0.1
N
13
Energy kJ
3
3
3
10
2
2
9
9
7
7
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
NE
10
3
ENE
10
3.5
ENE
10
3.5
ENE
10
2.4
E
8
1.7
E
9
0.4
SSE
3
1.1
E
6
1.2
NE
9
0.3
SW
2
0.3
SW
2
1.3
ENE
5
Energy kJ
1715
1917
2064
2149
802
439
4
86
231
1
1
80
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
Distance (km)
126
126
126
126
126
74
33
23
0
74
74
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
8
74
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
4
7
5
6
4
3
6
5
6
5
5
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
9
9
7
7
6
6
7
9
5
5
5
5
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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