Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, N swell with 1,197 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period with NNE 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 12) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. 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 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 12s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you—this outlook for Tauranga Bay is a tough one. We’ve got a solid 16 days on the table, but the first week and a half is mostly a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. You’re looking at a long gap of poor conditions with a few flickers of hope way down the track.
The pattern starts off with tiny, weak swells. Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th have waves barely pushing 1ft, with a combined energy in the low 20s—basically nothing. The wind is light and glassy or offshore on those mornings, but there’s just no energy in the water to make it worth getting wet.
We get a pulse of bigger swell rolling in from the 9th, but it’s a messy northerly with onshore winds howling at 19 mph. Saturday the 10th sees the swell jump to 8ft and combined energy skyrockets to 774, but it’s onshore and cross-onshore all day. That kind of size with those winds is a gruelling battle—more for the bodyboarders or kite surfers than anyone wanting a clean paddle session. The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is about average for this time of year.
The real standout, and the only window I’d circle on your calendar, is Saturday the 15th. The morning session is the pick: a clean 5ft NNE swell, cross-off wind from the WSW at 9 mph, and the combined energy is a decent 332. That’s a proper surfable size with clean lines and no crowd worries—this spot rarely sees crowds. For a beginner-friendly break like Tauranga Bay, it’s the one time you can jump in with confidence. The afternoon drops to 4ft, still clean, but the energy fades.
Beyond that, nothing really fires again. Sunday the 16th morning has a clean 3ft wave, but it’s ordinary. By the 20th and 21st, we get offshore winds and a little bump in energy (up to 233), but the swell stays small and the conditions are only just surfable. It’s a long, flat run after the 15th, so make the most of that Saturday.
Bottom line: Tauranga Bay is a consistent spot that usually delivers, but this 16-day stretch is mostly a dud. Saturday the 15th morning is the only true standout. Keep an eye on the forecasts; it never stays poor for long around here.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat night, min 8°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the N by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Sun night, light winds from the NNW by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ENE 15 | ESE 6 | NE 13 | N 5 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | N 9 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 12 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 36 | 206 | 263 | 286 | 765 | 1083 | 566 | 521 | 497 | 498 | 361 | 250 | 174 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:26PM2.34m | 1:51AM2.38m | 2:24PM2.33m | 2:46AM2.35m | 3:30PM2.33m | 3:47AM2.32m | 4:38PM2.36m | 4:55AM2.33m | 5:44PM2.43m | 6:03AM2.36m | 6:45PM2.52m | 7:06AM2.42m | 7:43PM2.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:26PM0.80m | 8:00AM0.66m | 8:27PM0.84m | 9:00AM0.67m | 9:34PM0.85m | 10:04AM0.65m | 10:43PM0.81m | 11:10AM0.60m | 11:48PM0.73m | 12:15PM0.51m | 00:50AM0.63m | 1:15PM0.41m | 1:48AM0.53m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | |
 | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | E 6 | NE 13 | NE 14 | ENE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | N 8 | NNE 8 | E 12 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | 12 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 566 | 521 | 3 | 498 | 361 | 250 | 174 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 10 | ENE 15 | NE 16 | NE 13 | SE 6 | N 13 | N 12 | E 12 | E 11 | — | NE 12 | E 12 | N 13 | E 12 | W 12 | NW 11 | NW 11 |
| kJ | 5 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 16 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | N 12 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | E 12 | N 14 | — | — | N 12 | N 12 | N 12 |
| kJ | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | N 5 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | N 9 | — | — | NNE 8 | — | — | NW 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 36 | 206 | 263 | 286 | 765 | 1083 | — | — | 497 | — | — | 3 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 60 | 65 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 92 | 112 | 518 | 518 | 466 | 63 | 169 | 10 | 9 | 211 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
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
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