
Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s period, E swell with 309 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period with ESE 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 1.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 3AM. 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 (Jul 25) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s in store for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
Right off the bat, I’ll be straight with you – the first week is a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a solid stretch from Saturday the 25th right through to Friday the 31st of July where the conditions are just not playing ball. The swell is hanging around, but the wind is ruining the party. After that, there’s a few days of tiny swell before we get a small window of something rideable.
The standout for the whole period, without a doubt, is Monday the 27th of July. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s the best we’ve got. The surf is small at 2ft to 3ft from the ESE, but the wind goes light offshore from the SSW, and that’s gold. The water is sitting at 62°F – that’s about 1°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s feeling pretty normal, not a major anomaly. The combined energy on the Monday afternoon hits 219 (moderate), so there’s a bit of push behind it. The period is a solid 13 seconds, so it’s groundswell, with longer waits between sets, making the paddle out easier. This is a time for a log or a mid-length.
Tuesday the 28th of July keeps that same vibe: 2ft ESE groundswell with light offshore winds in the morning. It’s clean, but still very ordinary. Wednesday the 29th of July morning is similar with 3ft ESE.
Then we hit a bit of a lull. From the 1st of August through to the 9th, the swell gets tiny, mostly under 2ft. There’s a brief moment on the morning of Saturday the 1st of August with glassy conditions and 2ft ESE swell, but it’s barely a ripple. The energy is weak (178) so it’s more of a paddle than a surf.
The next real chance comes on the 7th of August, late in the second week. Friday the 7th of August morning shows 3ft from the NNW with a clean offshore wind from the south. That’s a 7-second period, so it’s windswell – short and a bit crumbly, but it’s ridable and clean. The energy is 131 (weak to moderate). Again, not a day to get too excited, but it’s the best wave of the second week.
Bottom line: If you’re a beginner, the 2ft to 3ft range is perfectly fine. For the more experienced, the Monday (27th) and Tuesday (28th) of July are your best bets for clean, small waves. Be prepared for crowds, because Tauranga Bay can get a few people when it’s clean. The rest of the time, it’s either too windy or too small.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat morning, light winds from the SW by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 8 | E 12 | E 11 | NW 6 | NW 7 | E 14 | E 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
118 | 127 | 90 | 124 | 55 | 98 | 119 | 215 | 173 | 176 | 178 | 229 | 238 | 242 | 235 | 240 | 106 | 186 | 164 | 170 | 128 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:03PM2.18m | 5:03AM2.12m | 5:56PM2.19m | 5:58AM2.11m | 6:46PM2.22m | 6:48AM2.13m | 7:31PM2.26m | 7:35AM2.16m | 8:13PM2.31m | 8:18AM2.20m | 8:53PM2.35m | 9:00AM2.24m | 9:31PM2.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:27AM0.88m | 10:59PM1.04m | 11:22AM0.89m | 11:53PM1.02m | 12:16PM0.85m | 00:42AM0.97m | 1:05PM0.80m | 1:28AM0.90m | 1:48PM0.73m | 2:11AM0.82m | 2:27PM0.67m | 2:52AM0.75m | 3:04PM0.63m | ||||||||
7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 14 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | NW 7 | E 14 | E 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | NNW 6 | ESE 11 |
110 | 127 | 90 | 62 | 55 | 98 | 119 | 215 | 173 | 176 | 178 | 229 | 238 | 242 | 235 | 240 | 88 | 186 | 164 | 57 | 128 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | NW 7 | NW 7 | E 16 | ESE 11 | NW 7 | SE 5 | NNW 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | N 10 | N 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | ESE 11 | N 6 |
118 | 42 | 16 | 20 | 40 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 106 | 5 | 5 | 170 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 12 | NW 17 | NW 12 | ESE 15 | ESE 11 | NW 7 | W 12 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 12 | NE 19 | NE 18 | NE 18 | NE 17 |
— | 13 | 11 | 5 | 44 | 40 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | NW 6 | WSW 3 | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | N 3 | NNE 3 | N 4 | N 5 | NNW 6 | — |
19 | 16 | 4 | 124 | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | 30 | 75 | 116 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 302 | 493 | 3 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 92 | 92 | 277 | 546 | 82 |
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










