Surf Forecasts:
Piha-The Ditch surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 10,400 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Piha-The Ditch this week:
The surf forecast for Piha-The Ditch over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Piha-The Ditch in the next 16 days are 4.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Piha-The Ditch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Piha region. We've got a big, long-period groundswell pushing in from the southwest, and the wave energy is pumping hard. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, nothing unusual there.
Now, the first few days are a bit of a heartbreaker. Saturday the 12th to Monday the 15th of September, we're seeing serious size with that swell – we're talking 12ft to a whopping 15ft of SW swell, with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy is massive, hitting between 8085 and 10400, and that's just too much juice for Piha-The Ditch. It's a beginner-friendly spot, but when it's that big and the wind is cross-shore, it's going to be a washing machine. Even with favorable wind and tide, it's just too gnarly.
Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday the 17th settle down a little bit, but the quality drops right off. The swell drops below 7ft and the wind goes cross-onshore, leaving us with marginal, messy conditions. Not worth paddling out for.
The Real Standout
Thursday the 17th afternoon is where it gets interesting. The swell has backed off to a more manageable 8ft from the WSW, with a strong 14-second period, and the wind goes glassy – completely dead, zero wind. That's the magic window. The combined energy is moderate at 2182, but those clean, glassy conditions are going to make for some excellent, lined-up waves. This is the best session on offer for experienced surfers.
Friday the 18th looks promising again with a 10ft SW swell and clean offshore winds, but it's back up to that big, powerful range that might be too much for the average punter.
From Saturday the 19th onward, we see another pulse of energy and a lot of poor surf conditions with strong winds and rain. The swell stays big, often over 10ft and up to 13ft, but with cross and onshore winds chopping it up. There's a glimpse of clean conditions on Monday the 23rd of September morning, but with an 8ft swell and a strong 25 mph offshore wind, it's going to be a battle.
For the rest of the outlook, it's a mixed bag of big, powerful swells but poor wind and weather. Most days are just too big for the Ditch, and when it's not big, the wind is stuffing it up. Honestly, for the dates around the 21st, this setup with that much swell and strong, lumpy wind is looking more like a kite surfer's paradise than a paddle surfer's dream.
Hang tight for that Thursday the 17th glass-off – that's your one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5730 | 10265 | 10400 | 9507 | 6947 | 5268 | 4530 | 3192 | 2356 | 2265 | 1470 | 933 | 572 | 555 | 980 | 2182 | 1471 | 4593 | 4474 | 4467 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 10:18PM3.02m | 10:39AM2.92m | 10:54PM2.95m | 11:15AM2.86m | 11:30PM2.82m | 11:51AM2.75m | 00:06AM2.65m | 12:29PM2.59m | 00:44AM2.45m | 1:09PM2.42m | 1:26AM2.26m | 1:57PM2.24m | 2:19AM2.08m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:33AM-0.04m | 4:49PM0.04m | 5:10AM0.03m | 5:27PM0.15m | 5:46AM0.16m | 6:05PM0.31m | 6:22AM0.33m | 6:44PM0.50m | 7:01AM0.53m | 7:27PM0.69m | 7:46AM0.71m | 8:19PM0.87m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 8 | 3 | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | SW 16 | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 5730 | 10265 | — | — | 6947 | 5268 | 4530 | 3192 | 2356 | 2265 | 1470 | 933 | 572 | 555 | 980 | 2182 | 1471 | 4593 | 4474 | 4467 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 20 | SW 6 | WSW 18 | WSW 15 | — | W 7 | — | WNW 7 | NW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 32 | 31 | 403 | — | 161 | — | 21 | 22 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 20 | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | SSW 4 | — |
| kJ | 2355 | — | 10400 | 9507 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | 13 | — | — | — | 15 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 124 | 84 | 84 | 137 | 153 | 153 | 137 | 1 | 102 | 165 | 230 | 165 | 340 | 121 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Piha-The Ditch Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Piha-The Ditch 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 Ditch can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Piha-The Ditch 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 Ditch) 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 Ditch 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 Ditch 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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