
Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 5 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 4 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period, E swell with 800 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period with E 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. 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 1.6m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 04) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sun 5th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 5th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 4th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Righto, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’.
Alright, the outlook for Tauranga Bay is a bit of a mixed bag this fortnight. We get a proper little spike early on, but then it’s a long, flat spell. The water temp is sitting right about average for this time of year at 62°, so nothing wild there.
The standout is Friday, the 3rd of July, first thing. We’ve got a solid 5ft swell rolling in from the east, with a long 11-second period pushing a moderate wave energy (505). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the ESE at 9 mph, which should keep the faces nice and tidy. This is your window for a good session, with the wave comment saying "expect good surf conditions". It’s a consistent beginner-friendly beach, and crowds are rare, so you might have it to yourself.
By Friday afternoon, the wind switches and it gets a bit marginal. Then Saturday the 4th is a write-off with onshore winds and a messy 5-5ft swell. After that, the size drops right off. From Sunday the 5th onward, we’re looking at mostly knee-to-waist-high dribble, with the energy dropping from 365 down to barely a ripple. There’s a long gap of nothing really surfable for days on end.
The morning of Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th offer a tiny 2ft ESE swell with glassy or clean conditions, but it’s pretty ordinary. Not worth a special trip.
Later in the run, around the 15th of July, a short-period windswell from the north pops up, but it’s accompanied by howling onshore winds – 25 mph on the Wednesday afternoon. That’s a mess, and honestly, with that much wind and a beach setup, it looks more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle session.
The 17th (Friday morning, July 17th) shows a last gasp of clean 2ft surf with a moderate offshore wind, but it's still small.
Bottom line: grab Friday morning, the 3rd of July, at Tauranga Bay. After that, it’s a long wait for anything worthwhile.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the NW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon morning, light winds from the SW by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | NW 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
505 | 505 | 365 | 800 | 657 | 454 | 335 | 323 | 220 | 172 | 133 | 162 | 81 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 163 | 150 | 240 | 240 | 167 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:03AM2.20m | 10:34PM2.35m | 10:44AM2.21m | 11:13PM2.36m | 11:26AM2.21m | 11:54PM2.35m | 12:09PM2.21m | 00:39AM2.35m | 12:55PM2.22m | 1:26AM2.34m | 1:47PM2.22m | 2:16AM2.34m | 2:46PM2.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:04PM0.63m | 4:38AM0.69m | 4:41PM0.65m | 5:18AM0.68m | 5:21PM0.67m | 5:59AM0.69m | 6:05PM0.72m | 6:43AM0.69m | 6:52PM0.77m | 7:32AM0.70m | 7:46PM0.82m | 8:26AM0.69m | 8:47PM0.85m | ||||||||
7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 13 | — | — | 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | NW 6 | E 10 | E 10 | NNW 6 | E 10 | NW 6 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
505 | 505 | 365 | 800 | 657 | 454 | 335 | 323 | 98 | 172 | 133 | 82 | 72 | 40 | 73 | 73 | 163 | 150 | 240 | 240 | 167 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 10 | E 13 | N 10 | N 10 | N 6 | NNW 6 | — | E 10 | NNW 6 | NW 11 | E 11 | NW 18 | E 10 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | — | NW 6 | N 14 | NW 14 | N 13 |
— | 2 | 260 | 2 | 2 | 49 | 25 | — | 212 | 33 | 5 | 108 | 13 | 73 | 26 | 5 | — | 2 | 4 | 8 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 10 | — | W 11 | NE 10 | N 10 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NW 7 | N 9 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | NW 6 | — | NW 5 | NW 6 | WSW 3 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSE 3 | SSW 3 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 25 | 43 | — | 21 | 220 | 3 | 49 | 162 | 81 | — | 8 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 51 | 60 | 60 | 466 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 63 | 94 | 32 | 63 | 216 | 216 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 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










