Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, E swell with 441 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period with E 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 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 10s period. 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 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s break down what’s in store for Tauranga Bay over the next sixteen days. The action starts Monday, August 17th, but it’s a mixed bag. The one true highlight is Monday afternoon—that’s your session. After that there’s a long dry spell from Wednesday the 19th well into the end of the month, with nothing worth paddling for. A big pulse shows up around the 30th, but it’s messy. Let’s go through it.
Monday morning, 17th August: Tauranga Bay has 5ft swell from the southeast, short 8-second period, with 30 km/h SSE winds offshore. It’s clean but rough around the edges. Water temp is 61°, which is about average for this time of year—just a hair warmer than normal. Combined energy is moderate (332). It’s marginal, better to wait.
The standout is Monday afternoon. Swell builds to 6ft from the ESE with a 10-second period, winds are 25 km/h south offshore. Clean and punchy. Combined energy jumps to strong (710). Expect really good surf. For beginners, 6ft is a bit much, but for anyone with experience, this is it. Tauranga Bay likes east to southeast swell, and this fits perfectly. It’s a consistent break, and crowds are rare, so it’s a sweet solo mission.
Tuesday the 18th fades. Morning has 3ft ESE swell, 9-second period, light SW cross-offshore breeze at 10 km/h. Clean but small. Energy weak (130). Afternoon drops to 2ft, same direction, 15 km/h south offshore. Small, clean leftovers.
From Wednesday the 19th, it gets grim. Morning shows 0.7ft ESE swell with a long 12-second period—groundswell but no size. Energy is a weak 34. Winds are light offshore, but it’s poor. Wednesday afternoon bumps to 4ft SE swell with a short 7-second period, energy moderate (182), but still only marginal. That’s the best for days.
Thursday the 20th morning is glassy with 2ft ESE swell, 9-second period—too weak to bother. The rest of the week is more of the same: tiny, short-period swell, mostly cross or onshore wind, energy rarely over 70. It’s a dead zone.
Around the 25th and 26th, there’s a spike on Tuesday afternoon with 5ft NW swell but onshore 35 km/h NNW winds—poor and messy. Then on the 30th, Sunday morning hits 8ft from the north, 7-second period, energy strong (765), but onshore 25 km/h NNW winds. Sunday afternoon goes up to 10ft N swell, 8-second period, energy very strong (1141), but still onshore and poor. That’s too big for beginners, and with the wind, it’s more of a kite-surfing setup at a beach-and-reef spot like this. Monday the 31st stays messy with 5ft N swell and cross-onshore NE winds. The first week of September is just small, lumpy cross-shore junk.
So, if you want a wave, get out Monday afternoon the 17th. That’s your one real standout. After that, it’s a long wait for something clean, and the late pulse is too wind-whipped. Tough stretch, but conditions can flip.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Mon morning, light winds from the S by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 9 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | WNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
319 | 710 | 315 | 126 | 76 | 55 | 14 | 125 | 35 | 46 | 61 | 44 | 35 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 35 | 30 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 3:21PM2.15m | 3:22AM2.11m | 4:22PM2.13m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:51AM0.93m | 9:19PM1.07m | 9:46AM0.97m | 10:19PM1.09m | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | NE 12 | E 13 | NW 5 |
13 | 710 | 315 | 126 | 76 | 55 | 7 | 50 | 35 | 46 | 61 | 44 | 35 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 10 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 11 | NE 11 | SE 11 | E 13 | E 9 | NE 10 | ESE 12 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 13 | NE 11 | E 13 | NE 13 | E 12 |
— | — | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NE 10 | ESE 12 | E 12 | NE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | N 14 | N 13 | NE 9 | N 14 | E 9 | NE 10 | NE 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | 4 | 14 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | S 2 | SSE 3 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 2 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 |
319 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 125 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 35 | 30 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 134 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 52 | 112 | 52 | 518 | 538 | 538 | 544 | 224 | 201 |
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











