Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NW swell with 560 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been through the numbers and it’s a slow couple of weeks for Tauranga Bay. We’re looking at a big dry spell before anything even gets close to rideable, so don’t bother rushing.
The first sign of life isn’t until Thursday, 10th September. The whole week before that is junk – tiny swell and ugly cross-onshore wind. Saturday morning the 5th is dead flat with glassy conditions, but only 1ft of NE swell and a combined energy of 37 – just a tease.
Thursday morning the 10th is the first time you’ll see a surfable wave. The swell is a tiny 2ft from the ENE with a 8 second period, combined energy a weak 77. Not impressive, but the wind is a light cross-offshore that’ll leave it clean. The water temp is 61°, which is about average for this time of year. Good for a beginner to get wet on a consistent break with rare crowds.
Looking out further, Friday morning the 18th brings a solid 8ft NNW swell with an 8 second period and combined energy of 945 – that’s strong. But the wind is cross-shore at 16 mph, so it’ll be messy. That’s expert-only size and the conditions will spoil it.
Saturday the 19th is your best shot. The morning has a 5ft NNW swell with 334 energy – moderate – and a fresh cross-offshore wind from the WSW at 19 mph keeping it clean. By the afternoon, the swell bumps up to 8ft from the NW, energy 896 – strong – and still clean cross-off winds. The break is consistent, crowds are rare, and the swell direction matches up with the optimum. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s wind swell, but on this exposed spot it should still deliver. That afternoon on Saturday the 19th is the pick of the forecast, but it’s for experts only – 8ft is serious. For beginners, there’s nothing clean and small the whole run.
A tough start, a few flat days, and then a big finish for the brave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, strong winds from the NW by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 6 | NW 6 | NE 10 | NE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | NNW 5 | NW 7 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NE 15 | NE 16 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NE 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 69 | 37 | 25 | 29 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 54 | 450 | 383 | 557 | 161 | 78 | 36 | 15 | 36 | 39 | 30 | 54 | 72 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:33AM2.38m | 2:09PM2.36m | 2:31AM2.31m | 3:17PM2.33m | 3:36AM2.27m | 4:25PM2.34m | 4:46AM2.27m | 5:30PM2.40m | 5:54AM2.31m | 6:29PM2.48m | 6:53AM2.37m | 7:23PM2.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:13PM0.76m | 7:42AM0.65m | 8:15PM0.81m | 8:44AM0.67m | 9:22PM0.82m | 9:51AM0.67m | 10:31PM0.78m | 10:58AM0.62m | 11:36PM0.70m | 12:02PM0.54m | 00:35AM0.60m | 12:58PM0.45m | 1:29AM0.50m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:10 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 11 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 5 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 9 | NW 6 |
| kJ | 25 | 37 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 311 | 161 | 78 | 36 | 15 | 9 | 30 | 14 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 11 | NW 5 | NW 19 | NW 18 | N 9 | — | — | ENE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 7 | NNE 6 | NE 8 | NE 16 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NE 14 |
| kJ | 2 | 24 | 25 | 29 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 2 | — | — | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 39 | 30 | 54 | 72 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 15 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | NW 17 | N 10 | N 10 | W 18 | — | W 16 | NE 16 | NE 16 | NE 16 | NE 17 | ENE 10 | NE 15 | NNW 6 | ENE 9 | ESE 6 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 36 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 7 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | W 3 | WNW 3 | — | SE 2 | ESE 4 | — | — | WNW 5 | WSW 3 |
| kJ | 69 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 54 | 450 | 383 | 557 | 6 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 19 | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 518 | 0 | 65 | 65 | 544 | 538 | 538 | 547 | 545 | 94 | 33 | 10 | 63 | 0 | 60 | 65 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 101 |
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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