Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 9,426 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s period with WSW 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Piha-The Bar in the next 16 days are 5.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk Piha. Piha-The-Bar is an advanced-only break that’s exposed and needs the right wind. The first few days are a bust – messy winds and poor conditions. On Friday the 28th and into Saturday the 29th of August, there’s a small window of clean offshore wind. That Saturday morning is the early standout: a light ESE offshore at 6 mph, swell around 3 ft from the WSW with a 13-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (577). It’s not big, but it’ll be glassy and rideable. After that, it gets ugly. Sunday the 30th sees a jump to 10 ft from the SW, but with fresh cross-shore winds over 18 mph, it’s a lumpy mess. By Monday the 31st, the swell hits 16 ft from the SW with a 12-14 second period – that’s a massive groundswell, but the cross-winds stay fresh, and the combined energy is huge (6509 morning, 9426 afternoon). That’s way too big for anyone but experts, and the wind just ruins it. Tuesday through the following week stays big – 10 ft to 15 ft – but the wind stays cross or onshore, making it choppy and poor. The real hope comes on Wednesday the 9th of September. The morning shows an 12 ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period, light SSE cross-offshore wind at 6 mph, and clean conditions. The combined energy is strong (4550). This is an excellent window for experienced surfers – big, powerful, and clean. Piha that morning is the best of the whole run. The crowd factor is “sometimes” so you’ll see a few others, but it’s worth it. After that, the swell eases, but the winds turn cross-onshore again, so quality drops. The last mentionable moment is Saturday the 12th of September: a small 3 ft WSW swell, 13-second period, with light SW cross-offshore at 15 mph, but it’ll be clean and tiny. Not a standout. So, the best bet is the early Saturday morning of the 29th of August for a small clean session, and the big one is Wednesday the 9th of September for the experienced crew. The rest is a long stretch of big, windy, messy surf.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Fri night, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 12 | WNW 11 | WSW 14 | NW 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 20 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 16 | SW 12 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1019 | 531 | 419 | 379 | 346 | 277 | 427 | 1107 | 1285 | 7489 | 6509 | 9426 | 8241 | 8107 | 7121 | 4509 | 3584 | 2993 | 3037 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:17PM2.74m | 9:34AM2.65m | 9:51PM2.85m | 10:08AM2.74m | 10:24PM2.91m | 10:43AM2.80m | 10:58PM2.93m | 11:18AM2.81m | 11:33PM2.88m | 11:56AM2.77m | 00:11AM2.79m | 12:37PM2.69m | 00:54AM2.65m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:28AM0.27m | 3:38PM0.21m | 4:03AM0.15m | 4:14PM0.14m | 4:37AM0.08m | 4:49PM0.11m | 5:12AM0.06m | 5:27PM0.14m | 5:50AM0.09m | 6:07PM0.22m | 6:30AM0.19m | 6:51PM0.34m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 3 | 16 | 11 | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | WSW 14 |
| kJ | 1019 | 531 | 197 | 287 | 346 | 277 | 336 | 609 | 751 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 22 | 4509 | 3584 | 644 | 3037 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WNW 8 | WSW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | WSW 20 | — | — |
| kJ | 103 | 469 | 419 | 362 | 114 | 157 | 12 | 2 | 229 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 117 | 253 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 24 | WSW 22 | WSW 11 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 11 | 50 | 117 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | NW 7 | NNE 3 | NW 9 | — | S 3 | SW 6 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 16 | SW 12 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | — |
| kJ | 9 | 266 | 4 | 379 | — | 7 | 427 | 1107 | 1285 | 7489 | 6509 | 9426 | 8241 | 8107 | 7121 | 3971 | 3102 | 2993 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 289 | 337 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 85 | 169 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 127 | 340 | 127 |
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.
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