
Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 1 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, NNW swell with 408 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 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, taking a look at the charts for the coming weeks. Let's be honest, it's a bit of a mixed bag, but there's a few windows worth keeping an eye on.
First off, the water temp is sitting pretty normal for this time of year, so no nasty surprises when you're suiting up.
The real action is a long way off, but there's a glimmer of hope. For the next few days, we're in a bit of a lull. Sunday and Monday the 26th and 27th of July offer up some small waves, but the conditions are a bit scrappy. Not worth rushing out for.
Things start to look a little more promising on Tuesday the 28th of July. Tauranga Bay will see a clean 2 ft swell from the ESE, with a very long 13-second period. That's proper groundswell energy. The morning is looking clean with a light offshore breeze from the S. You'll be paddling out into small, clean lines. The combined energy is moderate at 176, so it's not a powerhouse, but it will be fun. The fact it's a consistent break with a rare crowd is a bonus.
The standout, and the best on offer, looks to be Wednesday the 29th of July. Tauranga Bay picks up a slightly bigger 3 ft ESE swell, still with that lovely 13-second period. The combined energy climbs to a solid 246 (moderate). But the real kicker is the wind. Wednesday afternoon is forecast to be glassy. Absolutely flat calm. For a wave that's already clean, going glassy is a dream. It's a beginner-friendly break, so if you're learning, this is your window. The swell direction is a touch off the optimum NE, but with that energy and those conditions, it's the pick of the bunch.
The rest of the week after that gets messy. A strong NW windswell arrives on Friday the 31st of July with a 7 ft lump from the NNW, but it's short-period (7 seconds) and the wind is cross. That generates a strong 521 (strong wave energy) of combined energy, but it's going to be a chop-fest. Better for the kite crew than us paddle surfers.
There's a small reprieve on the 1st of August. Saturday morning sees a glassy 2 ft from the E with a decent 11-second period and 203 of combined energy. It's a small window before the wind picks up.
Then we hit a proper dry spell. From the 2nd of August right through to the 10th of August, the forecast is mostly poor. The swell is tiny, under 2 ft, or it's blown out by strong onshore winds. There's a few mornings with clean conditions and a small pulse, like the 6th of August seeing a 4 ft ENE swell, but it's short-period (6 seconds) and the wind swings cross-shore in the afternoon, ruining it. The 7th of August is similar, with a 4 ft NE swell but more cross-shore wind. It's just not coming together.
The only highlight in the second week is a small, clean window on Wednesday the 5th of August. The morning offers a tiny 2 ft ENE swell with a moderate offshore wind, giving you clean, small waves. It's nothing to get excited about, but it's better than the rest of the week.
For a long-range bet, keep an eye on the 10th of August. There's a small pulse of 3 ft ENE swell, but it's straight into a strong cross-shore wind. Not looking good.
So, to sum it up: nail Wednesday the 29th of July at Tauranga Bay for the best shot of the month. The rest is a waiting game. Don't get your hopes up for the second week, but you never know, the charts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sun morning, light winds from the SE by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, strong winds from the NNW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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) | 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 | ESE 12 | N 6 | NNW 7 | ESE 11 | NW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
90 | 98 | 44 | 98 | 158 | 168 | 173 | 176 | 178 | 229 | 242 | 242 | 265 | 240 | 246 | 140 | 408 | 135 | 149 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 10:59PM1.04m | 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 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | — | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 11 | 12 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | 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 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | N 7 | NNW 7 |
90 | 62 | 44 | 98 | 158 | 168 | 173 | 176 | 178 | 229 | 242 | 242 | 265 | 240 | 246 | 140 | 95 | 92 | 70 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | E 16 | ESE 11 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 6 | ESE 6 | — | ESE 5 | N 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | N 9 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | ESE 11 | E 12 |
16 | 20 | 40 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 15 | — | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 135 | 134 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 17 | NW 11 | ESE 15 | ESE 11 | ESE 5 | W 12 | NW 6 | — | N 10 | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | NE 19 | NE 18 | NE 18 | NE 17 |
11 | 5 | 44 | 40 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | NW 6 | WSW 3 | SE 4 | — | SE 4 | — | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | N 6 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 |
4 | 98 | 3 | 4 | — | 3 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 28 | 138 | 408 | 67 | 149 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 74 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 92 | 302 | 538 | 10 | 32 | 3 |
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










