Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 8,713 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. 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 4.5m 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 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Piha.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of days are a write-off. There’s a gap right through Thursday and into Friday morning with nothing worth paddling out for. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until Saturday afternoon, 29th of August.
So, your best bet this week is the late session on Saturday afternoon. The swell is a modest 3ft from the WSW, but the wind is from the SE at 10 km/h and it’s glassy offshore. That’s going to clean up the Piha sandbanks beautifully. It’s not a big day, but for a clean, playful wave when the wind is right, you can’t beat it. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit. Keep in mind this spot can get a few people on it, but with the conditions looking that good, it’s worth the paddle.
Sunday the 30th is a non-starter. The wind is howling out of the WSW at 30-35 km/h, whipping up a lumpy mess. The swell jumps to 8ft to 10ft, but with a short period of 7-8 seconds, it’s just a fat, bumpy wall. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a surfer’s wave.
Now, Monday the 31st gets interesting, but it’s for the experienced crew only. We’ve got a solid 15ft SW groundswell pumping in with a 13-14 second period. The combined energy is massive (6740-8713). The wind is strong cross-shore from the SW, which will keep it lumpy, and the size is way too big for beginners. If you’re an expert and know Piha’s rip, it could be a session, but it’s a grunty one.
The first week of September is a washout. Tuesday through to Friday the 5th is all strong cross-onshore winds, lumpy, and messy. The swell stays big, but the quality is just not there.
Looking way out, there’s a glimmer on Saturday the 5th of September. The morning shows a 12ft W swell with a 15-second period, and the wind from the WSW is moderate. The combined energy is high (7969). It’s still a bit choppy, but it’s the best looking day in the second week. A bit of a gamble, but the long period groundswell has potential.
The real monster comes mid-month. On the 9th and 10th of September, we’re talking 20ft to 23ft swells from the WSW with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy goes through the roof (24,000-25,000). This is pure, raw power. It’s way too big for any normal surfer, and the winds are strong and messy. This is a day to watch from the cliff, not the water.
Stay safe, and keep your eyes on the horizon.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Fri night, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Mon night, light winds from the W by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | WNW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | SW 8 | WSW 16 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
505 | 419 | 362 | 346 | 277 | 354 | 662 | 970 | 6970 | 6740 | 8713 | 7628 | 8296 | 6967 | 5549 | 3895 | 3037 | 2934 | 2184 | 2589 | 3071 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 1:24PM2.56m | 1:45AM2.47m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:16AM0.33m | 7:43PM0.49m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 8 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 11 | WSW 18 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
505 | 213 | 362 | 346 | 277 | 354 | 609 | 751 | 904 | — | — | — | 22 | 22 | 5549 | 3895 | 3037 | 2934 | 2184 | 2589 | 3071 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 22 | WNW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 20 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | — | SW 16 | — | — |
469 | 419 | 50 | 114 | 163 | 336 | 138 | 229 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 117 | 253 | 547 | — | 127 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 24 | WSW 23 | WSW 11 | NW 8 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 11 | 51 | 117 | 51 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | — | NW 9 | — | — | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 8 | WSW 16 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
273 | — | 287 | — | — | 165 | 662 | 970 | 6970 | 6740 | 8713 | 7628 | 8296 | 6967 | 4800 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 289 | 312 | 106 | 1 | 0 | 81 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 44 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 166 | 228 | 231 | 228 | 339 | 228 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











