
Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 7,916 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 9s. 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a slow start, then a couple of heavy windows—especially the weekend of the 16th and again around the 20th. Circle those.
Right now, it’s nothing special. Sunday the 9th is messy with lumpy cross-onshore wind from the north, only about 4ft of WSW swell. Wave energy is moderate (2465 Sunday morning) but choppy. Monday is average too—gentle cross-shore chop, up to around 5ft. Not worth suiting up.
Tuesday the 11th finally cleans up. The wind swings east, cross-offshore, and swell holds at about 4ft from the WSW. It’s clean with just a slight air. Combined energy is moderate (860–968). It’s not big, but it’ll be a nice clean session for the advanced crew at Piha-The-Bar.
Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th turn ugly again. Wind cranks from the NE at 25 km/h, swell drops under 3ft. Combined energy falls to weak (468 by Wednesday arvo). Showers roll in. A couple days to stay dry.
Friday the 14th sees a bump in size—about 6ft of WSW swell in the afternoon—but the wind is onshore from the NW at 20 km/h, combined energy up to 2551. Rain showers make it a mess.
Now the good stuff. Sunday the 16th—look out. Morning brings 8ft of WSW swell, wind from the SSW at 30 km/h, cross-offshore and clean. Combined energy is strong at 4702. Then Sunday arvo—huge. We’re talking 15ft of SW swell, cross-offshore southerly at 30 km/h, and combined energy blasts up to 8067. That’s very strong. This is expert territory only—way too big for beginners. The swell direction is SW and Piha-The-Bar is exposed to SW, so it’s hitting it square. Expect crowds, as it can get busy here.
Monday the 17th stays big at 10ft but lumpy. Tuesday the 18th through Wednesday the 19th remain big (10ft to 12ft), clean but strong winds and high energy (2500–4200). Experts only.
Then Thursday the 20th—absolute gem. Swell drops to a manageable 7ft in the morning and 6ft in the arvo, both from the SW, with a long 14-second period. Wind goes offshore from the ESE at just 10 km/h—light, clean, perfect. Combined energy is moderate to strong (1864 down to 1491). This is the other standout: excellent conditions for experienced surfers. Long-period groundswell, offshore breeze, clean lines. Crowds are possible.
The following days through the 22nd drop to around 5ft, with cross-offshore winds and clean conditions. Solid sessions if the bigger days are too much. By Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th, it fades out—under 3ft, weak combined energy (down to 276), and onshore wind returns. Time to hang it up.
Signing off from the beach—Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Tue night, light winds from the NNW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | WSW 19 | WSW 15 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | W 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
390 | 1111 | 880 | 486 | 643 | 1067 | 1010 | 672 | 615 | 637 | 480 | 422 | 387 | 239 | 792 | 798 | 822 | 1907 | 1193 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:43AM2.31m | 6:28PM2.47m | 6:58AM2.42m | 7:34PM2.65m | 8:00AM2.58m | 8:30PM2.84m | 8:53AM2.73m | 9:19PM3.00m | 9:41AM2.84m | 10:03PM3.09m | 10:25AM2.90m | 10:45PM3.10m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:31PM0.66m | 12:03PM0.53m | 00:45AM0.54m | 1:11PM0.40m | 1:50AM0.37m | 2:10PM0.23m | 2:45AM0.18m | 3:02PM0.08m | 3:35AM0.04m | 3:49PM-0.02m | 4:20AM-0.05m | 4:34PM-0.05m | |||||||
— | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | — | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WNW 10 | W 13 | WNW 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 15 |
277 | 1022 | 696 | 467 | 434 | 1067 | 1010 | 672 | 615 | 346 | 480 | 422 | 387 | 163 | 792 | 569 | 822 | 1907 | 1193 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 18 | WSW 19 | WSW 15 | NW 9 | WSW 16 | NW 8 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | WSW 19 | SW 12 | W 13 | W 11 | WSW 14 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | W 11 | WSW 18 | WNW 8 |
390 | 1111 | 880 | 168 | 643 | 15 | 115 | 65 | 59 | 637 | 152 | 31 | 121 | 239 | 444 | 798 | 275 | 644 | 56 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | WSW 19 | — | WSW 18 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | NNW 7 | SW 22 | WSW 21 | SW 7 | — | SW 6 | SW 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 22 | WSW 20 | — | — |
56 | 332 | — | 486 | 98 | 6 | 5 | 123 | 294 | 12 | — | 2 | 102 | 221 | 386 | 46 | 253 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | — | — | SW 3 | — | SW 8 | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | — | NE 4 | — | — | — |
13 | — | — | 5 | — | 122 | — | — | — | 4 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 10 | — | 6 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 106 | 8 | 11 | 44 | 44 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 106 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 44 | 85 |
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.











