Tauranga Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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