Piha-The Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° S 174.47° E

Piha-The Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Piha-The Bar sea temperature is
13.7° C
0.5° 

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 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with 9,944 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s 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 24) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 15s 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Mon 24th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 15s
Best Surf 9AM (Mon 24th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 15s
Most Powerful12PM (Mon 24th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s look at this run of waves for Piha-The-Bar. There’s plenty of ocean energy, but you gotta be smart about when you paddle out. Early on, it’s messy. Then we get a window of clean, glassy surf, followed by a period of swell so big it’s just not for this place. Then, a couple of chances for a proper surf if you time it right.

We start on Friday the 21st. Swell is around 6ft from the WSW with a 13-second period, and the combined energy is a weak-ish 961. Wind is cross-shore from the WSW at 15 km/h, so it’s a bit bumpy. Water temp is 57°F, which is about average for the time of year. This one’s marginal – you’d be fighting for a half-decent one.

Saturday the 22nd is a no-go – onshore wind and choppy. Sunday the 23rd is worse, with a fresh 35 km/h wind from the NW. The swell spikes to 12ft on Sunday afternoon with 2864 energy, but it’s cross-onshore and rough. Just a mess.

Now, Monday the 24th – the swell jumps to over 15ft from the WSW with a 15-second period. The combined energy is huge: 8964 in the morning, up to 9324 in the afternoon. Wind is light and cross-shore, and the report says the wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is just too big for this break. This is for experts only, and honestly, even then, it’s risky. Too much water moving.

Tuesday the 25th is still big at 12ft, but the wind turns cross-onshore and it gets messy. Wednesday the 26th drops to 7ft, but the cross-onshore wind stays, making it bumpy.

Then we get our first real window. Thursday the 27th morning is still onshore, but only 10 km/h. The afternoon, though – the wind drops to 5 km/h and goes glassy. Swell is 6ft from the WSW with a 13-second period. The report calls it excellent. This is the standout. Clean, lined-up, proper. If you can only surf one day, make it this one.

Friday the 28th is a step back – wind jumps to 25 km/h and it’s onshore and bumpy. The weekend is more of the same, nothing special. Then Monday the 31st rolls around. Morning is cross-onshore, but the afternoon goes glassy again with a 6ft WSW swell at 14 seconds. Another clean window, the second standout of the run.

September starts with onshore wind on the 1st, and the 2nd brings a strong 40 km/h cross-offshore wind with 15ft of swell. Clean but way too big. The 3rd is even bigger – 20ft of swell with 16046 energy. That’s a massive, dangerous swell. The report is right to flag it as too big. Don’t even think about it.

The 4th of September brings it down a bit – 12ft in the morning with a light cross-shore wind. Still heavy. By the 5th, it’s back down to 6ft, but the wind is up again from the WNW at 25 km/h, making a mess.

So, the call is simple: the first few days are blown out. The two absolute gems are Thursday the 27th and Monday the 31st – both have glassy afternoons with solid, clean surf. The huge stuff in between is for watching, not surfing. The early September swell is a monster, but it’s not for this break. Be patient, be picky, and you’ll get some good ones.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the NW by Sun morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
!
!
6
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
4
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
WSW
13
1.6
SW
14
1.5
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
14
0.8
WSW
13
2.5
W
8
3.5
W
10
3.5
WSW
12
4.5
WSW
15
4.5
WSW
15
4
WSW
15
3.5
WSW
15
3
WSW
15
2.5
WSW
14
2.2
WSW
14
2.3
SW
14
2.4
WSW
14
2.1
WSW
13
1.9
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
961
893
934
850
318
219
804
2543
3482
8964
9324
6060
4585
3922
2655
1886
1950
2187
1449
1188
620
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
WSW
20
W
20
WNW
20
NW
35
NW
25
WSW
25
WSW
20
SW
15
SW
10
SW
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
W
15
W
15
WNW
10
NW
10
N
5
SW
15
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
High Tide
3:45PM2.11m
4:12AM2.00m
5:03PM2.07m
5:34AM1.99m
6:19PM2.13m
6:44AM2.08m
7:17PM2.27m
7:37AM2.23m
8:03PM2.43m
8:20AM2.38m
8:42PM2.60m
8:58AM2.53m
9:17PM2.74m
Low Tide
9:28AM0.83m
10:08PM0.97m
10:37AM0.91m
11:24PM0.99m
11:51AM0.89m
00:34AM0.91m
12:54PM0.78m
1:30AM0.77m
1:44PM0.63m
2:14AM0.60m
2:25PM0.47m
2:52AM0.43m
3:03PM0.33m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:52
6:52
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
 mm
5
Temp °C
13
13
13
13
13
13
14
14
13
14
14
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
14
15
13
Feels °C
10
9
9
9
8
9
8
10
8
9
9
10
10
10
11
10
10
11
13
14
10
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  • 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 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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