
Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, NW swell with 516 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period with NE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
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 cards for Tauranga Bay.
Alright, I gotta be straight with you – we're looking at a long, quiet stretch here. The surf is going to be flat to tiny for the better part of two weeks. The first real pulse of sizeable swell doesn't show up until the morning of Sunday, September 20th, and even then it's going to be a bit messy.
Let's run through it. From Monday the 7th right through to Saturday the 19th, the wave energy is mostly weak (values like 21-99) with a few brief, small bumps. The swell is tiny – we're talking ankle to knee-high at best. The winds are a mixed bag, but on the 9th we get a glassy morning, and from the 11th through the 14th we get a long stretch of clean, cross-offshore winds. It would be a great time to be on a longboard or a foiling setup, but for a proper surf, it's a no-go. There's a brief uptick on the 16th with some lumpy 4ft swell (109 energy), but the cross-onshore wind will chop it up.
Now, the real event arrives on Sunday, September 20th. A big NW groundswell rolls in, pushing 7ft with a 9-second period. The combined energy is a strong 1247. That's serious power, and at that size, it's strictly for experienced surfers only. The wind is cross-shore from the WNW at 15 mph, which will put a bump on the face, so it won't be perfect.
Into the afternoon of the 20th, it drops a bit to 6ft (683 energy) from the NE. Still a good wave, but again, that cross-shore wind is a factor. We then see that swell linger into Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd, with the wind finally turning clean cross-offshore on Tuesday morning. So, the pick of the whole outlook is likely that Tuesday morning session, with a clean 5ft swell rolling in. But that's a long way off, so keep your fingers crossed.
If you're into kiting, that big, windy 7ft day on the 20th would be a lot more fun for you than it will be for a paddler. For everyone else, it's a waiting game.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Sun night, calm by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Wed night, fresh winds from the WNW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 5 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 7 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 15 | NE 16 | NE 14 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NNE 15 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
83 | 516 | 318 | 254 | 57 | 23 | 9 | 9 | 36 | 40 | 30 | 56 | 73 | 42 | 62 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 42 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:36AM2.27m | 4:25PM2.34m | 4:46AM2.27m | 5:30PM2.40m | 5:54AM2.31m | 6:29PM2.48m | 6:53AM2.37m | 7:23PM2.56m | 7:47AM2.45m | 8:12PM2.61m | 8:37AM2.51m | 8:58PM2.63m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:48PM0.38m | 2:19AM0.42m | 2:34PM0.37m | |||||||
— | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | |
mm | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 15 | NW 6 | NE 9 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 |
16 | 8 | 8 | 254 | 57 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 16 | 56 | 39 | 22 | 62 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 42 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 18 | — | — | ENE 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | ENE 10 | NE 15 | NE 16 | NE 14 | NE 7 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 10 | ENE 9 | WNW 6 | ENE 12 | NW 6 |
6 | — | — | 8 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 36 | 40 | 30 | 14 | 73 | 27 | 23 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | — | E 18 | NE 16 | NE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 15 | N 6 | N 5 | NE 11 | ENE 9 | NE 10 | NNE 15 | NW 6 | NW 19 | NE 12 | NW 6 | NW 17 |
2 | — | 6 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 42 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | WSW 3 | — | — | SSE 2 | SE 5 | SE 4 | — | W 2 | NW 4 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | W 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 |
83 | 516 | 318 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 21 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 323 | 94 | 94 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 60 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 52 | 518 | 3 | 33 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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










