Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, W swell with 7,910 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tauranga Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tauranga Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the pipe for Tauranga Bay.
We’ve got a real mixed bag of a forecast ahead. The week starts off with some solid, clean conditions, but then the ocean’s gonna turn angry for a few days before it settles back down. The water’s sitting at 55°F, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year.
First call, and the best of the early window, is Tuesday morning (August 18th) . Tauranga Bay is a beach and point setup, and it’s exposed to that WSW swell. We’ve got a clean 6ft swell rolling in from the WSW, with a light offshore breeze from the SE. The combined energy is strong (1195), but at that size, it’s more for the experienced crew. Still, the conditions will be excellent.
Wednesday morning (August 19th) is a real standout. The swell has dropped a touch to 5ft, but the period is a very long 16 seconds, meaning real groundswell energy. The combined energy is even higher at (1364), and with a cross-offshore breeze from the ENE, those waves will be holding up nicely. This is the one to circle on the calendar.
Later Thursday afternoon (August 20th) is looking glassy with a 5ft swell from the WSW, combined energy (682). It’s not the biggest, but with the wind going dead calm, it’ll be silky smooth out there.
Friday morning (August 21st) is also completely glassy with a 4ft groundswell (15-second period) from the WSW. Combined energy (580). For a smaller day, that’s a beautiful thing.
Then things get rowdy. From Saturday (August 22nd) through to Monday (August 24th) , the wind swings onshore and gets nasty. The swell jumps to 13ft and the combined energy goes through the roof (over 6000 at times). This is not paddle surfing. The beach and point setup is going to be a mess of wind and chop. Honestly, the kite surfers might have a field day, but for us, it’s a hard pass.
The swell eases back down on Tuesday morning (August 25th) to a 6ft, WSW swell with a 15-second period, but it’s got a cross-shore wind on it, creating a chop. Combined energy (2464). It’s surfable but messy.
We get a bit of a clean-up on Thursday morning (August 27th) with a 4ft swell from the WSW and a light offshore from the ESE. Combined energy (462). A good, clean, small day.
Looking further out, the Saturday morning (August 29th) is a real promise. An 8ft swell from the west, combined energy (1820), and a clean cross-offshore breeze from the south. This is for the experienced surfers, but the conditions will be excellent. It’s a long-range call, so don’t bet the house on it, but it looks good.
Sunday morning (August 30th) is similar, with a 7ft west swell and a clean cross-offshore breeze from the ENE. Combined energy (1032). Another solid option.
The first couple of days of September look small and clean. Tuesday morning (September 1st) is glassy with a 4ft, long-period (13-second) swell from the WSW. Combined energy (900). Perfect for a longboard.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, strong winds from the WSW by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 13 | W 10 | WNW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1139 | 577 | 585 | 906 | 1631 | 1158 | 838 | 681 | 563 | 580 | 521 | 356 | 334 | 625 | 926 | 2931 | 2267 | 7910 | 5711 | 4065 | 2814 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 2:18PM2.59m | 2:38AM2.51m | 3:02PM2.41m | 3:26AM2.32m | 3:54PM2.26m | 4:24AM2.16m | 4:59PM2.15m | 5:37AM2.08m | 6:14PM2.12m | 6:52AM2.10m | 7:23PM2.20m | 7:55AM2.20m | 8:18PM2.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:31PM0.49m | 8:54AM0.58m | 9:18PM0.69m | 9:42AM0.77m | 10:13PM0.86m | 10:41AM0.92m | 11:20PM0.96m | 11:52AM0.99m | 00:34AM0.96m | 1:04PM0.95m | 1:40AM0.87m | 2:03PM0.83m | 2:33AM0.73m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | |  | |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 13 | W 10 | W 12 | N 7 | W 10 | — | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 |
| kJ | 1139 | 577 | 585 | 458 | 1631 | 1158 | 838 | 681 | 563 | 580 | 521 | 356 | 334 | 625 | 80 | 26 | 2267 | — | 5711 | 4065 | 2814 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 18 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | — | — | N 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | W 20 | W 20 | W 13 | W 19 | — | W 18 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 56 | 322 | 299 | 906 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 30 | 90 | 186 | — | 325 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 19 | WSW 16 | — | WSW 15 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 315 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 123 | 50 | — | 74 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NNW 5 | WNW 9 | W 10 | — | W 16 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 94 | 926 | 2931 | — | 7910 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 57 | 188 | 159 | 188 | 199 | 188 | 188 | 188 | 188 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Tauranga Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tauranga Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tauranga Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tauranga Bay 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 (Tauranga Bay) 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 Tauranga Bay 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.
Are you planning a holiday in West Coast South Island? If you are looking for accommodation near Tauranga Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in West Coast South Island, consider staying in Nelson which is 161 km (100 miles) away.
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