
Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 6,479 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Piha-The Bar this week:
The surf forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Piha-The Bar in the next 16 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the line for Piha. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but it ain’t gonna be a walk in the park. This is a heavy, exposed beach break, and it’s gonna be demanding.
The water temp is sittin’ around 58°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The main event is a serious, long-period groundswell from the southwest that’s gonna be pumpin’ for days. The combined energy is massive – we’re talkin’ 5,131 (moderate to strong energy) comin’ in on Wednesday the 15th. It’s a proper 10 ft swell with a 16-second period, but the wind is howlin’ straight offshore from the WNW. This makes for a clean, powerful, but very tricky wave. This is big, heavy stuff at 10 ft – only for the advanced crew. The offshore wind will groom it, but it’s a beast of a paddle and a real hold-down risk.
The swell stays big through the 16th and 17th – 10 ft down to 8 ft – but the wind swings around, gettin’ cross and cross-onshore, so the quality drops off. It’ll be lumpy and hard to get a clean one.
Now, keep your eye on Sunday the 19th. That’s the standout. The wind drops out and goes light cross-off from the SSW, with a 10 ft, 16-second SW groundswell still pumpin’ at 4,518 (strong energy). The report says it’s clean, and for a spot like Piha, that’s a rare treat. The water’s still gonna be chunky, but the conditions will be far cleaner than the mess earlier in the week. This is your best bet for a proper session – still just for experienced surfers, though.
The swell slowly backs off into the next week, droppin’ to 6 ft and then 5 ft by the 22nd. The wind goes glassy on the morning of Wednesday the 22nd, with a clean 5 ft SW swell (643 energy). That’s a much more manageable size, and the glassy conditions will make for some really fun, clean runners. Piha can be magic when it’s like that.
The gear then goes a bit limp for a few days – small, short-period rubbish from the 23rd to the 25th. Not worth paddlin’ out for.
Then, hold onto your board, because Monday the 27th of July sees a massive jump back up to 12 ft, with a 16-second period and combined energy of 5,590 (strong). The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but the swell is there. That’s a big, dangerous day.
The absolute peak of the whole run looks like it’ll be Wednesday the 29th of July. We’re lookin’ at a 13 ft, 15-second SW swell with a combined energy of 7,646 (very strong). The wind is a stiff cross-off from the SSW at 18 mph. That’s a massive, powerful, clean wave. It’s gonna be a wall of water. That is only for the absolute top-end experts. The following morning, Thursday the 30th, the swell is even bigger at 15 ft, but the wind is a bit messier. It’s gonna be a wild week.
So, the pick of the litter: Sunday the 19th for the best combination of size and clean conditions, and that glassy morning on Wednesday the 22nd if you want something a bit more user-friendly. The big stuff on the 29th is a spectacle, but you’d better know what you’re doin’. Crowds are “sometimes” an issue at Piha, so on those clean days, expect a few other locals in the water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 10°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5131 | 4779 | 3803 | 3326 | 2324 | 2305 | 3417 | 4353 | 3873 | 3477 | 6461 | 5472 | 4518 | 3162 | 2212 | 1879 | 1465 | 1200 | 996 | 734 | 540 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 10:21PM3.08m | 10:43AM2.85m | 11:08PM3.09m | 11:31AM2.83m | 11:53PM3.03m | 12:17PM2.75m | 00:38AM2.90m | 1:02PM2.64m | 1:22AM2.73m | 1:49PM2.50m | 2:08AM2.54m | 2:39PM2.37m | 2:57AM2.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:39AM0.00m | 4:54PM-0.03m | 5:27AM-0.01m | 5:41PM0.01m | 6:14AM0.05m | 6:28PM0.12m | 6:59AM0.16m | 7:14PM0.28m | 7:45AM0.30m | 8:02PM0.46m | 8:32AM0.46m | 8:53PM0.64m | 9:23AM0.61m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | |
5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | 5:28 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
5131 | 4779 | 3803 | 3326 | 2324 | 2305 | 3417 | 4353 | 3873 | 3477 | 6461 | 5472 | 4518 | 3162 | 2212 | 1879 | 1465 | 1200 | 996 | 734 | 540 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | — | WSW 20 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | 38 | 37 | 62 | 103 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | SW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | 3365 | 383 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 278 | 153 | 125 | 119 | 44 | 44 | 73 | 44 | 44 | 73 | 85 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Piha-The Bar Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Piha-The Bar provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Piha-The Bar can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Piha-The Bar 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 (Piha-The Bar) 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 Piha-The Bar 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.
Piha-The Bar is 12 km (7 miles) from the city of Auckland. If you plan a holiday in Auckland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Auckland. Auckland has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











