Tauranga Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.00° S 173.83° E

Tauranga Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tauranga Bay sea temperature is
16.0° C
0.7° 

Tauranga Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, ESE swell with 78 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Tauranga Bay in the next 16 days are 0.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Wed 19th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 8s
Best Surf 9PM (Wed 19th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 8s
Most Powerful 9PM (Wed 19th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get into it.

The outlook is slim for a while. We’re looking at a lot of small, weak swell and messy conditions for the better part of the next week and a half. The real standout window doesn't show up until late in the period, around the 30th of August into the 31st. There’s a long gap of nothing worthwhile before that.

Starting on Wednesday the 19th, the swell is tiny and the energy is low. There’s a small window on Wednesday afternoon with a bit more size, about 4ft from the SE, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is a moderate offshore. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

Thursday the 20th morning sees a clean, glassy start with a 2ft ESE swell, but the combined energy is still weak. Thursday afternoon the wind swings cross-onshore and it gets messy again.

Friday the 21st morning is the best of this first week. It’s glassy, the swell is a clean 2ft from the ESE, and the period stretches to 9 seconds. It’s not big, but for a beginner-friendly spot like Tauranga Bay, that's a fun, clean little wave. The water temp is 61°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

From Friday afternoon right through to the morning of Sunday the 30th, it’s a write-off. The swell drops to nothing, the wind is all over the shop, and there are days of rain and strong onshore winds. It’s just not worth paddling out.

Finally, on Sunday morning the 30th of August, things start to turn. We’ve got a glassy, dead-calm morning with a 3ft NE groundswell, period of 9 seconds, and a solid moderate wave energy reading. It’s still a little ordinary, but it’s the first real sign of life.

Then, Monday morning the 31st of August is the standout. The swell jumps to 7ft from the NW, period is 8 seconds, and the combined energy is a strong 892. The wind is light onshore, which is a bit of a bummer, but the size and power are there. At 7ft, this is getting into expert territory. Tauranga Bay is a consistent, fairly exposed beach break that handles NE swell best. With a NW swell and onshore wind, it won’t be perfect, but for raw power, this is the best on offer in the whole 16-day window.

So, if you’re a beginner, stick to Friday the 21st morning. If you’re an expert looking for some punch, mark your calendar for Monday the 31st of August, but know it might be a bit lumpy.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ESE
8
1.3
SE
7
0.7
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
9
0.6
E
10
0.5
E
9
0.4
ESE
10
0.3
ESE
9
0.2
ESE
9
0.5
NW
4
0.7
NW
4
1
NW
5
0.2
E
12
0.2
E
12
0.2
E
12
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
21
167
58
64
65
59
65
68
41
35
17
8
7
18
47
12
12
11
13
13
11
Wind (km/h)
20
SSE
20
S
10
S
5
SSE
10
ENE
5
S
5
SW
15
NW
10
SW
10
W
15
NW
15
WNW
25
WNW
30
WNW
20
WNW
5
WSW
15
NW
10
S
5
SW
15
WNW
5
SW
Wind State
off
off
off
off
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
glassy
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
12:46PM2.41m
1:01AM2.38m
1:32PM2.31m
1:44AM2.28m
2:23PM2.22m
2:30AM2.19m
3:21PM2.15m
3:22AM2.11m
4:22PM2.13m
4:21AM2.07m
5:19PM2.14m
5:24AM2.07m
6:11PM2.19m
Low Tide
6:45PM0.79m
7:12AM0.73m
7:32PM0.91m
7:59AM0.84m
8:23PM1.01m
8:51AM0.93m
9:19PM1.07m
9:46AM0.97m
10:19PM1.09m
10:44AM0.97m
11:17PM1.05m
11:43AM0.93m
00:09AM0.98m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:01
7:00
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:55
5:55
5:57
5:58
5:59
5:59
6:00
 mm
3
3
1
Temp °C
13
14
10
11
12
12
13
13
13
14
14
13
15
15
14
16
17
15
15
16
14
Feels °C
7
9
7
8
9
10
10
9
10
10
10
9
10
10
10
16
15
13
13
12
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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

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