
Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NW swell with 371 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period with ESE 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tauranga Bay in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Tauranga Bay.
To be straight with you, the next 16 days are lookin’ pretty grim for any kind of decent surf. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak waves and poor conditions, so don’t go getting your hopes up too early. It’s gonna be a real test of patience.
Monday, July 20th is about as good as it gets, and that’s not sayin’ much. We’ve got a tiny 1ft swell comin’ from the ESE with a solid 12-second period – that’s some long period groundswell, but it’s just got no push behind it, with combined energy readings of only 58 (weak). The morning is clean with a slight air off the SSE at 3 mph, and the afternoon turns glassy with a light NE breeze. The water temp is sittin’ at 62°, which is about normal for this time of year. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. Perfect for a beginner to get wet, but don’t expect any real waves.
Tuesday, July 21st sees a slight bump to 3ft from the ESE, but the period drops to a short, weak 7-seconds, and the wind is a cross-offshore SE breeze at 9 mph. Not terrible, but the energy is only moderate (135). The afternoon turns rainy with the same wind, and the waves just aren’t worth paddlin’ for.
The rest of the week is a write-off. From Wednesday, July 22nd all the way through to Monday, August 4th, we’re stuck with tiny waves under 2ft, short periods, and mostly cross-off or cross-on winds. The swell directions are all over the place, and the combined energy rarely gets above 100. There’s a brief spike of 6ft on Friday, July 24th and again on Thursday, July 30th, but both times the wind is howling from the NW or W at 15–22 mph, making it fresh, lumpy, and horrible. That’s not surf – that’s a kite session.
Even the longer period swells that pop up around July 28th and 29th, with 14-second periods and energy creepin’ up to 162 (moderate), are only 2ft and come with winds that just aren’t friendly. The Saturday, August 1st morning has a 4ft NW swell but it’s only 7 seconds of period, so it’s weak and messy.
There is no standout session here, folks. The best wave of the whole 16 days is the tiny, clean glassy wave on Monday the 20th. If you’re a beginner, that’s your window. For everyone else, it’s a long, dry spell. The area just isn’t gettin’ the love it needs.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Thu morning, strong winds from the WNW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 7 | E 7 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | E 10 | E 11 | NW 6 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
51 | 49 | 48 | 102 | 84 | 47 | 24 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 35 | 312 | 53 | 73 | 79 | 80 | 62 | 59 | 39 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:35PM2.45m | 00:56AM2.52m | 1:23PM2.37m | 1:42AM2.42m | 2:13PM2.30m | 2:28AM2.32m | 3:08PM2.23m | 3:16AM2.24m | 4:06PM2.19m | 4:08AM2.17m | 5:03PM2.18m | 5:03AM2.12m | 5:56PM2.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:32PM0.60m | 7:04AM0.55m | 7:21PM0.74m | 7:52AM0.66m | 8:11PM0.86m | 8:42AM0.76m | 9:05PM0.96m | 9:34AM0.83m | 10:02PM1.02m | 10:27AM0.88m | 10:59PM1.04m | 11:22AM0.89m | 11:53PM1.02m | ||||||||
7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | NNW 7 | E 10 | E 11 | NW 6 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 |
51 | 49 | 48 | 27 | 25 | 47 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 53 | 73 | 79 | 80 | 62 | 59 | 39 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ENE 8 | SE 11 | E 9 | NNW 7 | W 18 | E 10 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 |
7 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 18 | 6 | 78 | 9 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 10 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | ESE 11 | NE 7 | NE 8 | — | — | WNW 4 | E 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 |
— | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 5 | 24 | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ESE 7 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 5 | NW 6 | SW 3 | WSW 2 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | SW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 |
— | — | — | 102 | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 312 | 2 | 1 | 39 | 193 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 445 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 518 | 518 | 538 | 518 | 3 | 116 | 69 | 10 | 69 | 568 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Northland? If you are looking for accommodation near Tauranga Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Northland, consider staying in Houhora which is 71 km (44 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Whangarei which is 93 km (58 miles) away










