Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, ESE swell with 327 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. 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 1.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) 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 1.0m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Tauranga Bay.
Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – the next week and a bit is *flat and sad*. This isn’t a stretch where you wanna be paddling out. From Saturday the 15th right through to about Wednesday the 26th, it’s a real mixed bag of weak little windswells, cross-off breezes, and tiny dribble. We’ve got a solid ten-day gap where you’d be fighting for a wave that’s barely knee-high. Most days the energy is weak – in the two-digit range – and the best you’ll get is a few lukewarm, ordinary waves. A few mornings look clean with offshore wind, but the swell just isn’t there. If you’re a kite surfer, maybe keep an eye on the Sunday the 23rd when a strong onshore wind kicks up a messy 5.2 ft closeout, but for a paddle surfer? Forget it.
Then, just when you’re about to hang up your board, things flip. Thursday the 27th shows signs of life. By Friday morning the 28th, that’s the one to circle on the calendar – and I mean big time. We’ve got a solid 5.6 ft groundswell from the NNW, bundled with a very strong combined energy of 878, and a clean light offshore breeze from the south. This is Tauranga Bay at its best. The period is 9 seconds – decent enough shape, plenty of push, and with that offshore wind it’ll be clean and lined up. This is a standout for the whole sixteen days. There’s still some decent action rolling into Saturday the 29th morning: 7.5 ft of NNW swell with light offshore winds and strong energy (611). That size is getting up there – best left for experienced surfers – but it’s clean and punchy. Sunday the 30th morning drops back to a manageable 4.9 ft with a light offshore breeze, which is a nice way to finish the run. The water temp is 61°, which is just a touch warmer than average for this time of year, nothing wild.
Hang in there through the dry spell, because that Friday-Saturday window is worth the wait.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sun night, light winds from the WSW by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
67 | 125 | 68 | 49 | 22 | 202 | 287 | 227 | 108 | 82 | 54 | 36 | 58 | 24 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 23 | 22 | 13 | |
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 | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:11PM2.71m | 10:36AM2.57m | 10:54PM2.66m | 11:20AM2.55m | 11:37PM2.58m | 12:03PM2.49m | 00:19AM2.48m | 12:46PM2.41m | 1:01AM2.38m | 1:32PM2.31m | 1:44AM2.28m | 2:23PM2.22m | 2:30AM2.19m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:44PM0.33m | 4:17AM0.37m | 4:30PM0.40m | 5:01AM0.41m | 5:15PM0.52m | 5:44AM0.49m | 6:00PM0.65m | 6:27AM0.60m | 6:45PM0.79m | 7:12AM0.73m | 7:32PM0.91m | 7:59AM0.84m | 8:23PM1.01m | |||||||
— | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
67 | 125 | 68 | 49 | 22 | 202 | 287 | 227 | 108 | 82 | 54 | 36 | 58 | 24 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 23 | 22 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 9 | E 15 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 14 | E 12 | E 12 | N 10 | — | N 10 | — | N 10 | N 9 | — | — |
41 | 30 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | E 13 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 9 | NW 12 | — | — | — | — | N 10 | N 10 | SE 15 | ESE 13 | W 16 | — | — | — | NE 9 | NE 9 |
1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 5 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 2 | S 4 | S 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 2 | S 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 15 | 457 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 61 | 112 | 52 | 52 | 65 | 60 |
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











