Tauranga Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's take a look at what’s cooking for our little corner of the coast. It's looking like a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, so you'll want to pick your moments carefully. We’ve got a run of very small, ordinary surf for a long stretch, but there's a couple of genuine windows that could be worth your time.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday, July 7th. Tuesday morning is a write-off with a stormy 8ft north swell and strong onshore wind, but keep your eyes on Tuesday afternoon. The swell drops to a clean 7ft from the north with a period of 8 seconds. What makes this the standout is the wind swinging south at just 3 mph, going offshore. That’s going to be clean. The combined energy is moderate (658), so there’s some push. For the experienced guys, this might be the best on offer—just be aware that at 7ft it's pushing into expert territory, and the period is short, so it might be a bit crumbly at times. Crowds are rare here, which is always a bonus.

After that, things go quiet for a long stretch. From July 8th all the way through to July 15th, we’re in the doldrums. The swell drops to between 1ft and 3ft, mostly from the east-southeast with a period around 10-11 seconds. The wind is often offshore or glassy, which is a major positive for cleanliness, but the wave energy is weak (readings between 87 and 217). You can paddle out for a few small, clean rollers, but it’s very ordinary. If you’re a beginner, this might be your best bet for a safe, easy session, but it’s not going to get the heart pumping.

Then, hold onto your board, because Thursday, July 16th rolls in with a big, messy pulse. The combined energy during the morning hits a massive 2853, that’s very strong energy. The swell is 12ft from the north-northwest, but the wind is a howling 22 mph from the northeast, making it cross-onshore and lumpy. It’s a write-off for paddle surfing—this is full-on, heavy, and messy. Honestly, with that wind and size at a beach setup, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than a traditional paddle session. The rest of the week into the 19th keeps showing poor surf conditions with strong onshore winds and dropping swell. Avoid it.

So, to sum it up: the one true standout is Tuesday afternoon, July 7th for the clean, offshore conditions on a solid north swell. The long, flat spell from the 8th to the 15th is a real gap. Don't bother with the big, wind-affected junk after the 16th unless you’re flying a kite.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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