
Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 18s period, WSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 19s period, WSW swell with 25,859 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 2.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Piha-The Bar in the next 16 days are 6.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 20ft (6.0m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 20ft (6.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, Rusty again, this time in feet and knots. Piha-The Bar has a wild 16 days ahead, but it’s a mixed bag.
Saturday the 5th kicks off with waves around 12 feet and cross to cross-on winds that’ll turn the surface into a mess. Combined energy is huge – 5147 – but paddle surfing? Not with that wind and size.
Sunday the 6th looks similar, 12 feet again but onshore wind by the afternoon; the data flat-out says “poor surf conditions.” Monday the 7th doesn’t improve – rain showers and cross-on wind.
Tuesday the 8th morning: that’s the gem. Waves 12 feet, WSW swell, period 12 seconds, and a sweet SSW cross-off breeze at only 6 mph. Clean face, big energy (3450), and the comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” If you’re advanced, that’s the session. Piha is an exposed break that loves SW swell, and this matches perfectly. Just know the crowd can show up sometimes.
Wednesday the 9th morning backs off to 7 feet with a light offshore ESE wind at 3 mph – glassy, combined energy 941. A nice smaller option for a quick dip.
Then it gets rough. From Thursday the 10th all the way through the next week, the swell stays over 8 feet, often pushing 16 to 20 feet from Friday 11th onward, with strong cross to cross-on winds. A bunch of records note “wind and tide favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break” – that’s just huge, huge swell (combined energy 24726 on Friday 11th) but with 40 km/h wind, it’s a kite surfer’s playground, not a paddle surfer’s.
Late second week, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th morning bring 5-6 meter waves (that’s 15-18 feet) with clean cross-off winds from the south – energy around 8800 to 14255. That’s massive and clean, but only for true experts, and it’s far out so keep an eye on it.
Water temp: 57°F, dead average for this time of year.
The standout? Tuesday the 8th morning for advanced surfers. Clean, solid, and firing.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun night, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Wed morning, strong winds from the WSW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | W 12 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 11 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4948 | 5875 | 6105 | 6432 | 7129 | 4543 | 3837 | 3023 | 1624 | 3446 | 2316 | 1250 | 672 | 573 | 1158 | 937 | 606 | 7445 | 7942 | 24726 | 23252 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:35PM2.32m | 4:12AM2.21m | 5:03PM2.33m | 5:41AM2.24m | 6:22PM2.46m | 6:54AM2.39m | 7:25PM2.65m | 7:52AM2.57m | 8:15PM2.83m | 8:39AM2.73m | 9:00PM2.96m | 9:22AM2.85m | 9:40PM3.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:18AM0.62m | 10:03PM0.73m | 10:37AM0.66m | 11:26PM0.69m | 11:55AM0.59m | 00:40AM0.54m | 1:02PM0.43m | 1:40AM0.34m | 1:58PM0.25m | 2:30AM0.15m | 2:46PM0.11m | 3:14AM0.02m | 3:29PM0.02m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | W 12 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 22 | — | — | — |
4948 | 5875 | 6105 | 6432 | 7129 | 4543 | 3837 | 3023 | 1624 | 3446 | 2316 | 1250 | 672 | 573 | 1158 | 937 | 606 | 317 | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | S 7 | WSW 22 | SW 21 | WSW 21 | WSW 19 | SW 18 | WSW 17 | — | — | — | — |
199 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 47 | 218 | 286 | 475 | 719 | 601 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | NW 8 | W 8 | — | W 26 | SW 24 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 51 | 49 | — | 13 | 141 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 9 | — | — | — | NW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | W 6 | WSW 16 | WSW 11 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 |
— | 218 | — | — | — | 321 | 1219 | 844 | 645 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 146 | 7445 | 7942 | 24726 | 23252 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 231 | 231 | 325 | 325 | 325 | 325 | 237 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 235 | 85 | 85 | 116 | 85 | 85 | 346 | 85 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










