Tauranga Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s ahead for Tauranga Bay. We’ve got a bit of a quiet start, but there’s a real standout moment later on that’s worth keeping an eye on.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off, I’m not gonna lie. From Thursday the 30th through to Wednesday the 5th of August, the surf is small and mostly messy. The energy is weak, with combined swell energy figures sitting as low as 31 (weak) and rarely getting into the moderate range. Winds are a mixed bag, and the swell heights are tiny, mostly around 1 ft to 3 ft. It’s just not worth paddling out for. This is a solid gap of about a week with nothing to recommend.

We finally get a bit of life on Thursday morning, the 6th of August. This is our standout. The swell jumps up to 7 ft from the NNW. The combined energy is a hefty 503 (strong). The wind is glassy – that’s a rare treat. The catch is, the period is only 7 seconds, so it’s a short-period windswell, not a groundswell. That means it’ll be a bit bouncy and won’t have that long, clean line. For a beach break, this much short-period energy can be a bit of a washing machine. That Thursday afternoon it gets wind-affected, so the morning window is the one to chase. That 7 ft is also getting into the zone where it’s a bit much for beginners.

After that, the rest of the forecast is a bit of a letdown. We get some small, clean windows on the 8th and 9th of August, with ankle-to-knee-high swell from the ESE and NE, but the energy is low (103-153), and the conditions are just “ordinary.” Nothing to get excited about. There’s a pulse of energy on the 12th of August with 7 ft NE swell and 425 energy (strong), but the wind is cross-shore and the tide conditions are questionable. That one is a maybe, not a lock.

For the long-range, Wednesday the 13th of August morning has a big energy reading of 769 (very strong) with 5 ft ENE swell and a 12-second period, which is a proper groundswell. But the wind is onshore, so it’s going to be a messy, blown-out affair. That’s a promising energy source, but the wind will ruin it unless you’re into kite surfing. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on that day.

So, bottom line: If you’re a beginner, Tauranga Bay is a great spot, but the only real window for you is maybe the 3 ft glassy morning on the 8th of August. For everyone else, set your alarm for the morning of Thursday the 6th of August. That’s the best on offer. The water is sitting at 61°F, which is about average for this time of year.

Rusty.

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