Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, NW swell with 719 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with NNW 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 0.8m 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 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on offer around here. I’m Rusty, and I’ll be straight with you.
First up, the big picture: this stretch of coast is in for a lean run. The forecast shows a long stretch of small, weak swells with messy winds, and for the first week and a half, there’s really nothing to get excited about. The only real standout is a few days around the 12th of September, where things finally start to shape up. But don’t get your hopes up too early – there’s a lot of flat to wade through before that.
Let’s walk through it. From Monday the 31st of August right through to the end of the first week of September, the swell is tiny, barely 1 ft to 3 ft, with periods mostly under 10 seconds. The wind is either cross-off or cross-shore, and while Monday morning and afternoon are clean, the combined energy is weak – just 99 at best. That’s not enough to push a decent wave. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.
Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd see small 1 ft swell with cross-shore winds, some chop, and energy still in the doldrums – 28 to 34. Not worth paddling out for. Friday the 4th brings a bit more swell height (3 ft to 5 ft) but it’s a short-period, mixed up NW swell with strong cross-on winds, energy climbing to 178 but the surf is lumpy and messy. Saturday the 5th offers a rare glassy morning on the 1 ft NE swell, but it’s still too small to do anything with. The rest of that weekend and into the next week is a write-off – strong winds, cross-on, and fully messy.
Now, the one bright spot. Around Saturday the 12th of September, the swell starts to show some life. Swell height climbs to 4 ft, with a period of 9-10 seconds, and the wind goes light cross-off from the SW – clean conditions. The combined energy jumps to 373 on Saturday morning, which is moderate wave energy. That’s the best we’ll see. Tauranga Bay (a fairly exposed NE-facing spot) is where you want to be. The swell direction from the NE is bang on for this break. The wind is light and cross-off, so the surf will be clean. Keep in mind, this is still a beginner-friendly size, so it’s good for all levels. The water temp is still about average for the season. On Sunday the 13th, the swell drops a little to 4 ft with a SE direction, still clean but more ordinary. By Monday the 14th, it’s fading again.
So, if you’re hanging for a paddle, target the morning of the 12th of September. That’s the real standout. Everything before that is a waiting game, and after that, it trails off. The long-range call is promising but not a certainty – the closer you get, the better you’ll know.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Fri morning, calm by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 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) | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NE 10 | NNW 6 | NE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
119 | 99 | 73 | 92 | 76 | 45 | 42 | 29 | 19 | 11 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 40 | 143 | 44 | 25 | 18 | 24 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:42PM2.49m | 10:03AM2.43m | 10:24PM2.52m | 10:46AM2.47m | 11:06PM2.51m | 11:31AM2.49m | 11:52PM2.48m | 12:18PM2.47m | 00:40AM2.44m | 1:10PM2.42m | 1:33AM2.38m | 2:09PM2.36m | 2:31AM2.31m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:45AM0.57m | 3:56PM0.58m | 4:26AM0.54m | 4:39PM0.60m | 5:08AM0.54m | 5:26PM0.65m | 5:54AM0.56m | 6:18PM0.71m | 6:45AM0.60m | 7:13PM0.76m | 7:42AM0.65m | 8:15PM0.81m | |||||||
— | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 9 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | ENE 9 | NE 10 |
119 | 99 | 73 | 92 | 76 | 45 | 42 | 29 | 19 | 11 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 44 | 20 | 16 | 24 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | WNW 5 | N 15 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | N 12 | N 12 | ENE 10 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | NE 15 | NE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 11 | NW 20 |
3 | 3 | 4 | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 24 | 25 | 12 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | W 16 | E 12 | — | N 14 | — | N 12 | — | N 12 | N 11 | E 13 | — | — | — | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 |
5 | 5 | 3 | — | 4 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | — | — | NW 4 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NW 3 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 6 | — | — | NNW 6 | NNW 3 |
8 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 143 | — | — | 18 | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 493 | 65 | 445 | 113 | 518 | 518 | 518 | 307 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 33 |
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











