Tauranga Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down what's on the menu.

So, the first week is a bit of a roller coaster, but there are two sessions you really need to have locked in. Water's sitting about average for this time of year, so no need to dig out the 5/4 just yet.

The absolute best bet of the whole forecast is Friday the 21st in the morning. Tauranga Bay is going to be a dream. We've got a clean 4ft swell from the west-southwest, but that 15-second period is the real story – that's proper groundswell power. The wind is a whisper-light 5 km/h from the east-southeast, which is glassy offshore for this spot, so the waves are going to be perfect. The energy is solid at 678, so there's plenty of grunt. This is the session to call in sick for.

Saturday the 22nd is a dud. Onshore winds and rain kill any chance of a good wave. Sunday the 23rd is a full-blown storm. We're talking a massive 16ft to 18ft West-Northwest swell with 30 mph winds and rain. The energy is pumping at over 5,000 and 8,500 (5343 and 8536), but it's just too big and blown out. That's a kite-surfing day, not a paddle day. Stay on the beach.

Monday the 24th is still angry. The morning has a 15ft West swell at 15 seconds, but the cross-shore wind makes it a lumpy mess. The energy is huge (7902), but it's only for the experienced, and even then, it's not clean.

Here is your second big moment. Tuesday the 25th morning. Tauranga Bay gets glassy again. The swell drops to a more manageable 8ft from the west, still with that long 15-second period. The wind is forecast to be dead calm. This is excellent for experienced surfers. It will be big, powerful, and perfectly clean. The energy is still strong at 2445, so bring your big-wave board.

The rest of the week is a mix of onshore and cross-shore winds that make things messy. Friday the 28th morning has another glassy window with a 8ft north-west swell, but the period is short at 10 seconds, so it might not have much shape. Saturday the 29th morning offers a tiny 3ft south-west groundswell with a 20-second period and clean offshore winds, but it’s a long period wave that will be hard to catch at this spot.

Looking into the first week of September, there’s a good run from Sunday the 30th into Monday the 1st. We've got a solid 7ft to 7ft west-southwest swell with 16-second periods and clean, light cross-offshore winds. This is great for experienced surfers. Tuesday the 1st of September morning is another glassy session, with a 7ft west-southwest swell, but the period drops to 10 seconds.

Then it gets huge again. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd see another massive 16ft to 18ft West swell with strong onshore winds and energy readings over 5,000 and 7,000 (5638 and 7413). It’s just too big and messy. Friday the 4th morning offers a glassy 7ft west swell, but it's a long way out. Saturday the 5th is a small, clean 3ft day.

So, for the whole 16-day window, don't miss Friday the 21st morning and Tuesday the 25th morning. Those are your clean, powerful winners.

Rusty.

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