Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, N swell with 134 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for Tauranga Bay over the next couple of weeks.
Alright, straight up – the first week or so is pretty grim. There's a lot of flat days and junk wind ahead. The only real glimmer of hope is way down the track, on Thursday the 3rd of September. That's your standout.
For most of the first week, from the 20th through to the 27th of August, we're looking at tiny, weak swell. The combined energy is mostly in the double digits, like 64, 69, even down to 7 – that's weak, gutless energy. The winds are all over the shop, mostly cross-onshore or onshore, making for choppy, poor conditions. There's a morning on the 21st with glassy conditions, but the swell is only 2ft from the ESE with a 9-second period; it's surfable but very ordinary. Not worth getting wet for.
Then we hit the 28th of August. The swell jumps up, but it's a mess. We get a 8ft swell from the NNW with a short 7-second period, but the wind is howling onshore at 18 mph from the north. The combined energy is 505, which is strong, but it's all just wind-slop. For a beginner-friendly spot, that's too big and blown out. It looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The next few days are more of the same – small, weak, and choppy. The energy starts to build again on the 31st of August, getting into the 100s, but the wind is still onshore or cross-onshore, keeping it poor.
Now, here's the one to circle. On Thursday the 3rd of September, in the morning, we've got a clean 5ft swell from the NW with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is offshore from the SSE at only 6 mph, so it's light and clean. The combined energy is 517, which is a solid pulse of energy. The water temp is about 61°F, which is around average for the time of year. This is the best on offer – a proper clean swell with offshore wind. The swell is over 5ft, so it might be a bit much for the absolute beginners, but for anyone comfortable in the water, Thursday morning is the time. The swell direction is from the NW, and the optimum swell direction for Tauranga Bay is NE, so it's not perfectly aligned, but with clean conditions, it's still a winner.
The rest of the forecast just fades out again with small, weak surf.
So, sum it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. The clear standout is the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September. That's your window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | E 12 | NE 12 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 10 | NE 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
64 | 61 | 66 | 70 | 27 | 34 | 17 | 8 | 14 | 35 | 34 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | off | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 6:19AM2.10m | 6:58PM2.24m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:34PM0.85m | 00:57AM0.89m | |||||||
— | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 12 | E 13 | E 13 | NW 5 | N 4 | NW 4 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | NE 7 |
64 | 61 | 66 | 70 | 27 | 34 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 13 | NE 11 | E 9 | NE 13 | NE 11 | E 12 | NW 5 | NE 10 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | NE 10 | NE 7 | NE 10 |
— | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 15 | N 13 | NE 9 | N 14 | E 13 | NE 10 | N 14 | NE 11 | NE 12 | E 12 | N 12 | N 8 | — | E 12 | NE 10 | E 10 |
— | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | — | SE 4 | SE 2 | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 14 | 35 | 34 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 65 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 52 | 10 | 113 | 518 | 518 | 546 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 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











