Tauranga Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.00° S 173.83° E

Tauranga Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 25 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tauranga Bay sea temperature is
15.8°C
0.7° 

Tauranga Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, NNE swell with 200 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with NNE 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Tauranga Bay in the next 16 days are 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Sat 29th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 29th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sat 29th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you — it’s a tough stretch ahead for Tauranga Bay. The whole 16-day window is a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. There’s a long gap before we even get a whisper of something rideable, and even then, it’s nothing to get excited about.

The first couple of days are flat as a tack. Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th have tiny 0.3 ft swells from the NE. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is pretty close to the usual for this time of year, so no surprises there. Tuesday morning is clean but there’s nothing to ride, and by the afternoon a light cross-onshore breeze messes up the surface.

We crawl into Thursday the 27th morning with a glassy 0.7 ft NNE swell, still unrideable. Friday the 28th sees the swell bump up to 3 ft, but it’s a short-period, wind-affected mess with onshore winds. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine.

Now, come Saturday the 29th, we get a bit of energy — swell hits 5 ft from the NNE with a combined energy of 212 (moderate wave energy). But here’s the catch: the period is a shocking 7 seconds, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore with a risk of thunderstorms and rain. It’s sloppy, lumpy, and not worth paddling out. If you’re into kite surfing, that strong onshore wind and chunky windswell could be your jam, but for a surfboard? Hard pass.

Sunday the 30th morning is the only real bright spot, and I use that term loosely. Swell is 3 ft from the NE, 10-second period, and we’ve got a light cross-offshore breeze from the SW. The combined swell energy is 190 (moderate). It’s clean, but the wave comment calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” One metre and clean is about all Tauranga Bay has to offer in this whole outlook. Even then, this break is a beginner-friendly, consistent spot with rare crowds — but you’ll be fighting for scraps.

After that, it fades fast. Monday the 31st morning has a fresh offshore breeze and a tiny 2 ft NE swell — too small and gutless. The rest of the first week and into September is a parade of tiny, short-period swells with cross-shore or onshore winds. By the second week, from the 2nd of September onward, the swell drops to between 0.7 ft and 2 ft. The energy numbers are all under 100 (weak), and the winds are all wrong — either onshore, cross-onshore, or cross-shore choppy.

So, to sum it up: a massive 14-day gap with basically nothing ridable. Sunday the 30th morning is your only look-in, and it’s a meek one-metre, clean, but ordinary wave. If you’re desperate, paddle out then. Otherwise, the forecast might change — these things often do — but right now, Tauranga Bay is not the place to be.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Sun morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sun night).

Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
12
0.1
E
12
0.2
NNE
10
0.2
NNE
10
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
9
0.9
N
4
0.9
N
5
1.3
N
6
1.5
NNE
7
1.3
NNE
7
1
NNE
7
1
NE
10
1.1
NE
9
1.1
NE
9
0.6
NE
9
0.7
NE
10
0.6
NE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4
4
4
4
4
9
10
13
12
33
38
101
200
162
105
181
183
168
65
94
79
Wind (km/h)
5
SW
10
NW
10
SW
5
WSW
20
NW
10
WSW
5
NW
15
N
20
NNE
25
N
20
N
20
NW
15
NNW
20
NW
10
WSW
5
SW
20
WSW
25
SW
35
SSW
25
S
10
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
on
on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
High Tide
6:11PM2.19m
6:19AM2.10m
6:58PM2.24m
7:08AM2.16m
7:41PM2.31m
7:53AM2.24m
8:23PM2.38m
8:37AM2.31m
9:03PM2.44m
9:20AM2.37m
9:42PM2.49m
10:03AM2.43m
10:24PM2.52m
Low Tide
11:43AM0.93m
00:09AM0.98m
12:34PM0.85m
00:57AM0.89m
1:19PM0.76m
1:41AM0.80m
1:59PM0.68m
2:24AM0.70m
2:37PM0.62m
3:04AM0.62m
3:16PM0.58m
3:45AM0.57m
3:56PM0.58m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
mod rain
thunderstorm
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:52
6:52
6:50
6:50
6:48
6:47
6:46
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:00
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:02
6:04
6:04
 mm
6
5
1
4
Temp °C
14
16
12
14
15
13
14
14
14
15
16
16
16
17
13
15
16
11
13
14
12
Feels °C
12
13
9
11
11
12
12
11
11
10
12
13
14
14
12
13
12
8
6
8
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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

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