
Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Bar surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 19s period, SW swell with 14,568 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period with SW 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 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 4.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Piha.
Right now, the water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty average for this time of year – no surprises there.
Alright, the next couple of days are a bit average. Tuesday the 8th has some 7ft to 6ft WSW swell coming in with a cross-off wind, but it’s only fair at best – there’s a questionable tide and the wave comment says it’s marginal. Wednesday the 9th cleans up nicely though: morning has 5ft cross-off from the ENE and by the afternoon it goes glassy with a light WSW breeze and 4ft swell. That Wednesday arvo is the real standout of this first week – clean, glassy conditions, and the swell energy is moderate (796). It’s not big, but for a fun, clean session it’s the pick.
Thursday the 10th gets a bit messy with onshore winds, and the swell jumps to 6ft but with cross-onshore chop – a pass for me.
Now, hold onto your board. Friday the 11th sees a massive pulse: 15ft SW groundswell with a very long 19-second period and combined energy of 13,831. That’s huge – way too big for most, only for the experts. The morning has clean cross-off wind from the S at 22 mph, but at that size Piha is a beast. If you’re a charger, it’s on. Saturday the 12th stays over 13ft, but the wind is cross and lumpy – not ideal, even for the big-wave crew.
From Sunday the 13th right through to the end of the 16-day window, it’s mostly big, windy, and messy. Swells hover between 8ft and 16ft, but winds are often onshore, cross-onshore, or strong – a lot of blown-out, choppy conditions. There’s a brief window on Wednesday the 23rd: 12ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period, light cross-off breeze from the SSW, and clean conditions – that one has promise, but it’s a long way off.
Overall, the best on offer is Wednesday afternoon the 9th for clean, small waves, and if you’re an expert, Friday the 11th morning for the big, powerful groundswell. Most other days are either too windy, too messy, or just too big for a good paddle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SW 11 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 18 | WSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 11 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1699 | 652 | 918 | 575 | 491 | 800 | 862 | 891 | 2291 | 13831 | 13626 | 13891 | 12818 | 4607 | 8819 | 8335 | 8968 | 7797 | 7019 | 5581 | 4066 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:25PM2.65m | 7:52AM2.57m | 8:15PM2.83m | 8:39AM2.73m | 9:00PM2.96m | 9:22AM2.85m | 9:40PM3.03m | 10:01AM2.92m | 10:18PM3.02m | 10:39AM2.92m | 10:54PM2.95m | 11:15AM2.86m | 11:30PM2.82m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:02PM0.43m | 1:40AM0.34m | 1:58PM0.25m | 2:30AM0.15m | 2:46PM0.11m | 3:14AM0.02m | 3:29PM0.02m | 3:55AM-0.05m | 4:10PM-0.01m | 4:33AM-0.04m | 4:49PM0.04m | 5:10AM0.03m | 5:27PM0.15m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | SW 11 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | — | — | WSW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | SW 15 | SW 14 |
1699 | 652 | 918 | 575 | 491 | 800 | 862 | 891 | 2291 | 13831 | 13626 | — | — | 2751 | 8819 | 8335 | — | — | — | 5581 | 4066 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WSW 13 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WSW 21 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
199 | 596 | 101 | 50 | 288 | 475 | 835 | 608 | 1567 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | WNW 9 | WSW 22 | SW 21 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WSW 15 | SW 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 124 | 47 | 218 | 17 | 16 | 84 | 259 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | SW 7 | — | SW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 11 | SW 15 | — | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | — |
108 | 22 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 90 | 383 | — | 11441 | 13891 | 12818 | 4607 | 7315 | — | 8968 | 7797 | 7019 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 122 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 73 | 98 | 44 | 124 | 124 | 85 | 153 | 211 | 138 | 228 | 228 | 249 | 153 | 231 | 0 |
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.










