Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, NW swell with 150 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period with NW 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s 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 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
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 Tauranga Bay has got cooking for us over this forecast.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s gonna be a long, quiet stretch. This spot is pretty exposed to the north-east, and we’ve got a dreamy NE swell direction on paper, but the ocean just isn’t playing ball. The first week or more is pretty much a write-off. You’re looking at a solid 12 or 13 days of barely anything rideable. The swell is tiny, the period is short, and most days the wind is messing with it. There’s a moderate wave energy reading in the 200s (212) early on the 30th of August, but it’s paired with a cross-off breeze and the comment says it’s poor, so don't get too excited. The water temp is sitting at 61° which is about average for the time of year, nothing weird there.
Now, hang in there because the *only* real window, and I mean the only one worth paddling out for, is the morning of Saturday the 12th of September. That morning, we’ve got a solid little spike. The swell jumps to 5 ft, coming from the NW, and the energy in the water jumps right up to strong territory at 289 (moderate wave energy). But what makes this the standout is the wind: glass. Absolutely dead calm. That’ll put a shine on the face you won’t believe. The period is short at 7 seconds though, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and crumbly, not the long, groomed lines you dream of, but for this forecast, it’s the absolute best we’ve got.
That Saturday morning is the one to circle. After that, it fades back into small, ordinary conditions. The Sunday the 13th has some little chest-high waves with a clean offshore breeze, but it’s nothing to write home about. So yeah, we wait. Then we paddle out on that Saturday morning in September.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NE 10 | NE 11 | NE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 210 | 120 | 119 | 99 | 88 | 90 | 74 | 73 | 41 | 40 | 19 | 13 | 25 | 27 | 52 | 113 | 104 | 39 | 26 | 29 | 24 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:20AM2.37m | 9:42PM2.49m | 10:03AM2.43m | 10:24PM2.52m | 10:46AM2.47m | 11:06PM2.51m | 11:31AM2.49m | 11:52PM2.48m | 12:18PM2.47m | 00:40AM2.44m | 1:10PM2.42m | 1:33AM2.38m | 2:09PM2.36m | 2:31AM2.31m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:16PM0.58m | 3:45AM0.57m | 3:56PM0.58m | 4:26AM0.54m | 4:39PM0.60m | 5:08AM0.54m | 5:26PM0.65m | 5:54AM0.56m | 6:18PM0.71m | 6:45AM0.60m | 7:13PM0.76m | 7:42AM0.65m | 8:15PM0.81m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NE 10 |
| kJ | 210 | 120 | 119 | 99 | 88 | 90 | 74 | 73 | 41 | 40 | 19 | 11 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 15 | 24 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 7 | W 5 | WNW 5 | W 16 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | ENE 10 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | NE 15 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 11 | NNW 5 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | E 12 | E 12 | W 16 | E 12 | N 14 | N 14 | N 13 | N 12 | — | E 12 | N 11 | — | — | — | — | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | WNW 5 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | NW 6 | NW 5 | — |
| kJ | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 21 | 52 | 113 | 104 | — | 20 | 20 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 518 | 518 | 518 | 101 | 130 | 94 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 73 |
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
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