Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, NNE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, N swell with 206 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m 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 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 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 on the table for the next couple of weeks.
First off, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead. There’s a big gap of quiet, poor conditions right at the start. We're looking at next to nothing for the first few days. The water temperature is sitting at 60°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no shock there, just your standard winter chill.
The real story starts to shape up on the morning of Saturday, 29 August. The swell picks up, but it's messy. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the north, but it's short period, only 7 seconds, and it's getting hammered by heavy rain and a moderate onshore breeze. The combined energy hits 345 (moderate wave energy), but the conditions are just poor. By Saturday afternoon, the wind swings offshore out of the SSW, cleaning things up a bit, but the swell is dropping.
Sunday, 30 August, through to Monday, 31 August, is the best we’ve got. The swell drops to around 3ft from the NE, with a period stretching to 8-10 seconds, giving it a bit more shape. The wind is a clean offshore out of the WSW, and the combined energy sits in the 123-171 range (moderate wave energy). It’s not pumping, but it’s clean, rideable, and the crowds are rare. This is your window.
Come Tuesday, 1 September, the morning session sees a 3ft NE swell at 10 seconds with clean offshore winds, and the energy is still decent at 146. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. After that, it’s a slow fade back into small, choppy, or cross-shore junk for the rest of the week and into the second week.
The standout here is really just the Sunday-Monday window. There’s no big, epic swell to chase, just a clean, small window for a longboard or a fun fish. The rest of the 16 days is mostly flat or blown out. It’s a quiet period for the area, so don’t stress, just keep an eye on the forecasts.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | NNE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | N 5 | N 6 | NNE 7 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 47 | 123 | 186 | 187 | 121 | 126 | 119 | 141 | 156 | 119 | 138 | 133 | 142 | 110 | 68 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 10:46AM2.47m | 11:06PM2.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:26AM0.54m | 4:39PM0.60m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 15 | 28 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 11 | NNE 9 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 |
4 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 186 | 154 | 121 | 126 | 119 | 141 | 156 | 119 | 138 | 133 | 142 | 110 | 68 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | E 10 | E 13 | NE 9 | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 12 | E 14 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | E 12 | — | NW 5 | — | N 15 | WNW 6 | N 13 | N 12 |
4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 51 | 3 | — | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 12 | E 10 | E 12 | E 10 | E 10 | N 11 | E 11 | E 15 | — | E 13 | — | E 6 | — | — | E 12 | N 14 | W 20 | N 14 | N 13 | E 12 |
3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 2 | WNW 3 | — | NNW 3 | N 4 | N 5 | N 6 | — | N 7 | — | — | — | W 2 | W 3 | SW 3 | SW 2 | WSW 3 | SW 2 | WSW 3 | — |
1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 9 | 47 | 123 | — | 187 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 92 | 518 | 113 | 60 | 113 | 60 | 113 | 236 | 32 | 32 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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











