
Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, NNW swell with 198 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. 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 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
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 Tauranga Bay has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.
First off, it's a bit of a slow start. We're looking at a real dry spell for the first week or so. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
The first real glimmer of anything surfable doesn't come until Sunday, August 2nd. Early morning we get a tiny 0.3m NE groundswell with a long 15 second period, and the wind is blowing offshore from the SSE. It's clean, but it's barely a ripple. The combined energy is a weak 73, so you'll be scratching for anything. The afternoon picks up a bit with a 1.0m E swell, but the period drops to a short 7 seconds, making it a bit weak and wobbly, but still clean with that light offshore wind. It's surfable, but just barely.
Monday the 3rd through to Wednesday the 5th is a write-off. We're looking at tiny 0.3m swells with energy readings in the 20s and 30s. Not worth paddling out for.
Now, Thursday the 6th of August brings a glimmer. A 1.1m NNW swell shows up in the morning, but it's a short, fat 5 second period, and the energy is only 94. The wind is light from the ESE, so it's clean. It's still a struggle, but it's the best we've seen in days.
Things get a bit more interesting from Sunday the 9th of August. The morning is a clean 0.6m NE swell (71 energy), and then the afternoon is the highlight of the first week. The wind goes glassy, zero knots out of the NNW, and we get a clean 0.8m NE swell. The energy climbs to 127. It's not big, but for a beginner-friendly spot, that glassy surface and knee-high wave is about as good as it gets for a small day. Get on it.
Now, let's talk about the standout. Monday the 10th of August. This is the one. The morning brings a massive 4.5m ESE swell, with a 10 second period. The energy reading is a massive 5856. The wind is blowing a solid 16 mph from the south, offshore. The file says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, and honestly, for a beginner spot, it is. Over 8ft, this is for experts only. That 15ft on a fairly exposed beach setup is going to be a beast. It's a clean, powerful, and dangerous day. If you're not a seasoned charger, stay on the beach and watch.
The rest of that week into the 15th stays pretty average. We get a lot of wind from the east, with cross-shore and cross-onshore conditions making things lumpy. The swells hover around 5ft to 7ft with moderate energy, but the wind just messes it up. Tuesday the 11th has 8ft E swell but 25 mph cross-winds making it a total mess.
So, to wrap it up: The first week is for small-wave groveling or a rest. The absolute standout is the morning of Monday the 10th of August, but it's a serious, expert-only session. Everything else is a bit of a mixed bag. If you're a beginner, the glassy Sunday the 9th is your best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu night, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Thu night, calm by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 11 | E 11 | NE 16 | NE 15 | NE 15 | E 7 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
142 | 97 | 97 | 88 | 61 | 41 | 42 | 33 | 86 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 18 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:00AM2.24m | 9:31PM2.39m | 9:42AM2.28m | 10:09PM2.42m | 10:24AM2.31m | 10:49PM2.44m | 11:06AM2.34m | 11:30PM2.44m | 11:49AM2.35m | 00:14AM2.43m | 12:35PM2.36m | 1:01AM2.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:52AM0.75m | 3:04PM0.63m | 3:33AM0.68m | 3:41PM0.61m | 4:12AM0.64m | 4:19PM0.61m | 4:52AM0.62m | 5:00PM0.64m | 5:33AM0.62m | 5:44PM0.68m | 6:17AM0.63m | 6:32PM0.74m | |||||||
— | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | 10 | — | — | — | 5 | 14 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | NW 6 | ESE 11 | NNW 6 | E 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 5 | E 7 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 |
142 | 42 | 97 | 30 | 61 | 40 | 42 | 18 | 86 | 25 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | NNE 7 | N 6 | E 11 | N 6 | N 6 | NE 15 | ESE 11 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 8 |
5 | 45 | 29 | 88 | 16 | 10 | 35 | 22 | 33 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 19 | ESE 11 | NW 7 | NE 17 | NE 16 | NE 16 | N 6 | NE 15 | ESE 10 | E 10 | NE 16 | WNW 3 | SE 6 | SE 6 | NE 18 | NE 16 | N 12 | N 12 | SE 5 |
15 | 97 | 27 | 47 | 41 | 41 | 2 | 33 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | W 3 | W 3 | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 2 | — | — | — | — | N 3 |
126 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 538 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 73 | 93 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 493 | 119 | 445 | 10 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 60 |
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











