Tauranga Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been watchin’ the charts for Tauranga Bay (Westport) like a hawk. There’s a fair bit of juice in the water over the next couple of weeks, but the wind and size are gonna be the real gatekeepers. The water temp is sitting at about 55°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so that’s a win.

We kick off Thursday morning, the 27th of August, with a solid 7 ft swell from the WNW – that’s got some moderate energy behind it (1086). The NE wind is 16 mph and cross-off, so the waves will be clean. The period is 10 seconds, so it’s a decent mix of push and form. This is a solid option for intermediate surfers, but it’s only “fairly consistent” here, so don’t expect a wave every set. The crowds are “sometimes” around, so you might have a bit of company. Thursday afternoon though, the wind swings to NNE at 25 mph and it’s cross, whipping up messy conditions – give it a miss.

Friday the 28th looks like a write-off – heavy rain, a 15 ft NNW swell, and onshore winds. That’s too big for this break and the chop will be ugly. The weekend is a mixed bag. Saturday morning, the 29th, gives us a 6 ft swell from the west with a 10-second period, moderate energy (1097), and a light SSW cross-shore breeze at 6 mph. The waves will be clean with just a tiny ripple, but the comment says it’s marginal – the tide might be playing tricks. Worth a look if you’re keen and local. Saturday afternoon drops to 2 ft with a 20-second period – that’s a very long period swell, but the size is tiny and the wind is cross, so it’s not going to do much at a beach-and-point setup. Sunday the 30th is a no-go: strong winds and big, lumpy swell.

Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September – the swell is still pumping, 10 ft to 15 ft, but the wind is cross or cross-on, and the energy is through the roof (3512 to 7606). The comments say the swell is too big for this break, so unless you’re a charger with a death wish, stay on the sand. The period is 11-14 seconds, so there’s heaps of power, but the cross-chop will be nasty.

Now, Wednesday the 2nd is a bit of a tease. Morning brings a 8 ft WSW swell, 14-second period, moderate energy (2045), and a NW wind at 12 mph that’s onshore. The comment says marginal, and the tide might be a factor. Afternoon is worse with stronger cross-on wind.

Thursday the 3rd of September – morning has a 10 ft W swell, 14-second period, massive energy (3645), and a SW wind at 16 mph that’s cross. The comment says the swell is too big for this break again. The afternoon is a bit smaller at 8 ft but still cross-on.

Alright, here’s the standout. Friday morning, the 4th of September. The swell is 7 ft from the WSW, with a 15-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll have plenty of shape and power, but it might line up a bit too straight for a beach break. The energy is moderate (2038). The wind is from the NE at a tiny 3 mph, and it’s glassy. That’s the magic word – glassy. The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is your best window. Get out there early. The crowds are “sometimes,” so you might have the place to yourself if you’re lucky.

The rest of the forecast is a bit of a wild ride. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th see the swell jump back to 10 ft to 13 ft, with long periods and cross-on winds – too big and messy. The week of the 7th to the 11th of September is a mix of big swell and strong winds. Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th have some promise – Tuesday morning the 8th is 12 ft from the WNW with a light ENE cross-off breeze, making it clean, but the swell is too big for this break. Tuesday afternoon is 8 ft from the west, 18-second period, and clean cross-off wind, but it’s a marginal call. The energy is huge (6328), so that’s some serious power. From Wednesday the 9th onward, it’s all onshore, strong wind, and massive swell – 13 ft to 18 ft with energy readings over 10,000. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is Friday morning, the 4th of September, at Tauranga Bay. The glassy conditions and clean 7 ft WSW swell will treat the experienced crew right. The rest of the time is either too big, too windy, or too marginal. Keep your eyes on the charts – things can change.

Rusty.

Read more