Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, SE swell with 152 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's have a look at what's cookin' for Tauranga Bay over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, mate, I'm looking at a pretty bleak stretch ahead. We’ve got a long, quiet gap before anything really gets going. For the first week and a half, from Tuesday the 18th of August right through to Sunday the 30th, there’s just nothing worth paddling out for. A lot of tiny, weak, messy slop. You’d be better off waxing your board and just staring at it in the garage. There are a few moments with clean conditions, like the glassy Friday morning the 21st, but the swell is a pathetic 2 ft with weak energy (48). Not worth the walk.
Now, things start to show a pulse of life toward the end of the month. The first glimmer of anything half-decent comes on Monday morning, the 31st of August. We've got a 5 ft swell from the NNE, but with a short period of just 6 seconds and moderate energy (213). The wind is a clean cross-off from the SE, so the surface will be tidy, but that short period means the waves will be a bit fat and soft. It’s still only scoring as surfable, nothing special.
But the real standout, the one that gets my heart pumping a little, is Tuesday morning, the 1st of September. Now we’re talking. The swell bumps up to a solid 8 ft from the NNW, with a moderate period of 9 seconds. The combined energy jumps right up to a strong 1434, so you’ll feel the power. The water temp is a normal 61°, so a 3/2 steamer is the call. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the NE, which will keep the surface a bit bumpy but not too bad. That’s expert territory at that size, mate. Too big for beginners.
Look, this is your best bet by a long shot. That Tuesday morning, 1st of September. It’s the only real offering in the whole outlook. The rest is either too small, too windy, or just plain poor.
Stay patient, and keep an eye on the charts. It tends not to stay this flat forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | E 9 | E 8 | SE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NE 12 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 129 | 76 | 50 | 14 | 152 | 58 | 47 | 64 | 61 | 45 | 45 | 46 | 34 | 17 | 8 | 38 | 64 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:03PM2.49m | 00:19AM2.48m | 12:46PM2.41m | 1:01AM2.38m | 1:32PM2.31m | 1:44AM2.28m | 2:23PM2.22m | 2:30AM2.19m | 3:21PM2.15m | 3:22AM2.11m | 4:22PM2.13m | 4:21AM2.07m | 5:19PM2.14m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:00PM0.65m | 6:27AM0.60m | 6:45PM0.79m | 7:12AM0.73m | 7:32PM0.91m | 7:59AM0.84m | 8:23PM1.01m | 8:51AM0.93m | 9:19PM1.07m | 9:46AM0.97m | 10:19PM1.09m | 10:44AM0.97m | 11:17PM1.05m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | SE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 12 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 4 | NW 4 |
| kJ | 129 | 76 | 50 | 10 | 76 | 58 | 47 | 64 | 61 | 45 | 45 | 46 | 34 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | — | E 13 | E 8 | NE 10 | ESE 13 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 13 | NE 12 | SE 9 | E 12 | E 13 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 10 |
| kJ | 5 | — | 3 | 13 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 10 | ESE 12 | E 12 | N 10 | W 16 | — | — | — | — | N 15 | N 13 | NE 9 | N 14 | E 13 | NE 13 | NE 11 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | NW 5 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | 4 | 152 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 38 | 64 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 376 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 518 | 518 | 518 | 302 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 538 |
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
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