Tauranga Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.00° S 173.83° E

Tauranga Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 09 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tauranga Bay sea temperature is
16.2°C
1.0° 

Tauranga Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s period, NE swell with 77 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period with NE 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 (Sep 09) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Tauranga Bay in the next 16 days are 0.4m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Wed 9th Sep)1ft (0.3m) 16s
Best Surf 6PM (Wed 9th Sep)1ft (0.3m) 16s
Most Powerful 6PM (Thu 10th Sep)1.5ft (0.4m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks at Tauranga Bay are a real test of patience. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak surf and tricky winds, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel if you can wait it out.

Right now, through the first few days, it’s pretty flat. We’re looking at swell heights of just 0.7ft to 1ft, with combined wave energy barely ticking over (20 to 91). The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is about 2° warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice little bonus for the winter wetsuit crew. But honestly, the surf is poor. The wind is a mixed bag of glassy mornings and then cross-off or cross-shore breezes, but there’s just no power in the water to make it worthwhile. The period is decent, around 10 to 15 seconds, but with that tiny swell, it’s not doing anything.

From the 12th right through to the morning of the 22nd, it’s a long, dry spell. The swell drops even further, down to 0.3ft at times, and the energy figures are in the single digits or low twenties. There are some clean, glassy windows in there, like the morning of the 15th, but with only 1ft of swell, it’s a lake, not a surf break. The wind is often cross-off or light, which is a tease. It’s just one of those flat runs for the Bay.

Now, hold on to your board. The 22nd of September is where things start to get interesting. Tuesday morning looks like a real gem. We get a pulse of 3ft swell from the NNE, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 161 (moderate), and the wind is glassy from the ENE at 6 mph. That’s a very clean, surfable morning for the beginners and longboarders. The water will still be that warmer-than-average temp.

The real standout, though, is the morning of the 24th of September. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Expect a clean 3ft swell from the NE, with a period of 10 seconds. The wind is a light cross-off from the west at just 6 mph, which will keep the face clean. The combined energy is a solid 271 (moderate). It’s not a monster, but it’s a very real, surfable day with good shape. The afternoon gets a bit choppy as the wind picks up, but that morning session is the best on offer in the whole outlook.

So, the call is: a long wait, but the 24th morning is the one to aim for. It’s not a day for the experts, but for the average surfer, it’s a solid option.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ENE
10
0.3
NE
15
0.3
NE
16
0.3
NE
14
0.4
NE
15
0.4
NE
14
0.3
NNE
15
0.4
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.3
NE
12
0.3
NE
12
0.3
NE
12
0.3
NE
12
0.3
NE
12
0.3
NE
12
0.3
NE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
9
36
40
30
56
73
42
62
61
44
44
42
42
40
24
24
23
23
23
21
25
Wind (km/h)
5
NNE
10
N
10
SSW
10
W
25
WNW
20
SW
30
SSW
30
SW
25
WSW
25
SW
25
SW
15
SW
15
SW
20
SW
10
SW
5
WSW
10
NNW
10
SSW
5
SW
25
WNW
15
W
Wind State
glassy
on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross
High Tide
6:29PM2.48m
6:53AM2.37m
7:23PM2.56m
7:47AM2.45m
8:12PM2.61m
8:37AM2.51m
8:58PM2.63m
9:24AM2.56m
9:41PM2.61m
10:09AM2.57m
10:23PM2.56m
10:51AM2.55m
11:03PM2.49m
Low Tide
12:02PM0.54m
00:35AM0.60m
12:58PM0.45m
1:29AM0.50m
1:48PM0.38m
2:19AM0.42m
2:34PM0.37m
3:04AM0.38m
3:19PM0.40m
3:47AM0.39m
4:02PM0.48m
4:28AM0.44m
4:45PM0.58m
part cloud
clear
clear
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:26
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:10
6:10
6:12
6:13
6:14
6:14
6:15
 mm
1
4
2
1
Temp °C
15
14
12
14
15
11
14
14
13
15
15
13
17
17
13
15
16
13
15
17
13
Feels °C
11
11
10
10
10
5
7
7
8
9
9
9
13
13
11
14
14
10
12
12
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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