Piha-The Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° S 174.47° E

Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 30 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Piha-The Bar sea temperature is
14.1°C
0.0° 

Piha-The Bar surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 9,148 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore 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 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Mon 31st Aug)15ft (4.5m) 14s
Best Surf 6PM (Mon 31st Aug)15ft (4.5m) 14s
Most Powerful 9PM (Mon 31st Aug)15ft (4.5m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got the outlook for Piha – The Bar dialled in.

We’ve got a long, lumpy 16-day window ahead, but honestly, it’s going to be a battle for most of it. The big issue hitting this exposed west coast spot is the wind. Almost the entire run is dominated by fresh cross-shore to cross-onshore breezes, which is going to tear up that bar. The energy is there – we’re talking some serious swell numbers – but quality is going to be hard to come by. The first few days especially are a write-off for a decent paddle.

The whole first week starting the 30th of August to the 4th of September is basically a no-go. Sunday the 30th kicks off with an 8ft SW swell and 19 mph cross-winds, energy at (1543) but it’s just a lumpy, cross-chop mess. That swell jumps to 10ft and then 13ft through Monday and Tuesday, but the 22 mph winds only make it worse – strong wave energy in the thousands, yes, but the combined energy hitting (5928) on Monday morning is just messy. By Wednesday the 2nd, we see a drop in wind to 12 mph, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy on a 10ft WSW swell. Thursday the 3rd looks cleaner on paper with an offshore breeze, but it’s a 6ft swell with a weird period and the waves are still poor. Friday the 4th is another washout.

Now, after that rough start, there’s a glimmer for the second weekend. Saturday the 5th of September might be your best shot for a session. The morning shows an 12ft WSW swell at a solid 14 seconds, with cross-shore winds easing to 12 mph. It’s still got a bit of chop (energy at 4712), but the tide might play ball. This is the most promising early window – a heavy, powerful bar break that’s for advanced surfers only. Expect crowds possible here as it’s a known spot.

Then Sunday the 6th looks interesting for an afternoon paddle if you’re after size. The swell holds at 10ft from the WSW, but the period stretches to a very long 16 seconds. That kind of long-period groundswell at a beach/bar break can be a bit straight and wonky, but with a light 6 mph cross-onshore wind, it’s the cleanest it’s going to be all week. The energy is (5279). It’s still a beast, and only for the experienced.

The middle of the second week (7th to 9th) gets messy again with wind. But on Tuesday the 8th of September, we get an interesting setup. The swell is a solid 13ft from the W at 14 seconds (5883 energy), and the wind is a moderate cross-offshore at 12 mph, keeping things clean. The morning is the pick. This is a standout for the sheer power and potential for a barrel, but again, this is an expert’s game – that 13ft is well into the “too big for beginners” territory.

Looking further out to the 10th and 11th, we see another massive pulse on Thursday the 10th morning: a 13ft W swell with a 17-second period and energy readings hitting (10069)! That’s serious ocean energy, but the fresh cross-shore wind will put a lump on it. Friday the 11th is the same story with 22 mph winds and a 13ft swell, but the wind is just too strong and onshore to make it good.

The final days (12th to 14th) taper off with smaller swell but the wind remains a persistent problem, mostly cross or cross-on.

So, bottom line: Don’t even bother for the first five days. Keep your eyes on the morning of Saturday the 5th of September for a solid, doable session with decent power. The true standout for the pumped-up crew, however, is Tuesday the 8th of September morning – that 13ft, clean, cross-offshore window is the one to circle if you’ve got the skill and the nerve. The water temp is about average for this time of year at Piha.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
!
0
!
4
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
3
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SW
8
3
SW
8
4
WSW
16
4
WSW
13
4.5
WSW
14
4.5
SW
14
4.5
WSW
14
4.5
SW
14
3.5
WSW
14
3
WSW
14
3
WSW
13
3
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
3
WSW
10
3
WSW
11
3
W
14
3
W
13
3
WSW
15
3
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
820
1318
7817
6081
8328
9022
7986
7401
5305
3638
2891
2748
1019
1904
1904
3470
2796
3465
4102
5012
5156
Wind (km/h)
30
SW
35
SW
35
WSW
30
WSW
35
WSW
35
WSW
35
WSW
30
SW
20
WSW
20
W
20
W
25
WNW
35
WNW
30
NW
20
WNW
25
WNW
25
WSW
20
WSW
15
WSW
15
W
10
WNW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
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
2:21PM2.42m
2:49AM2.31m
3:35PM2.32m
Low Tide
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
8:11AM0.49m
8:46PM0.64m
9:18AM0.62m
10:03PM0.73m
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:41
6:39
6:39
6:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:01
6:02
6:04
 mm
1
1
1
1
2
1
5
1
Temp °C
14
14
13
14
14
13
13
13
13
14
14
14
15
16
15
16
16
14
14
14
14
Feels °C
8
7
6
8
7
6
6
7
8
10
10
10
10
12
12
12
13
11
11
10
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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