Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, ESE swell with 124 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tauranga Bay in the next 16 days are 0.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey crew, Rusty here again. Let's break it down in feet and knots for those who think in imperial.
## The Big Picture
Truth is, Tauranga Bay is in a quiet spell. The first real shot is Thursday morning, August 13th, with waist-high waves but nothing flash. Then we hit a dead run from Friday the 14th through Monday the 24th—days of knee-high slop or flatness. Late in the window, the size jumps up, but the wind turns nasty.
## Thursday Morning, August 13th
Tauranga Bay sees a 0.9m (3ft) NE swell at 8 seconds Thursday morning. Combined energy sits at 125, so moderate. The wind is light from the southwest at 5 km/h (3 knots), cross-offshore, keeping it clean. Water temp is about normal for the season. It’s small but rideable, and the offshore breeze makes it the smoothest option in the first week. Fine for beginners at this size.
## The Long Stretch
From Friday August 14th right through to Monday August 24th, there’s hardly anything. A few days with 0.3–0.7m (1–2ft) waves, but the wind is cross or onshore, and the energy is weak (often under 100). Not worth suiting up.
## Late Window – Size with Problems
Tuesday August 25th brings a jump to 0.7m (2ft) but with cross-onshore winds at 30 km/h (16 knots) and a short 9-second period. Choppy. Wednesday the 26th goes bigger—1.8m (6ft) in the morning and 2.2m (7ft) in the afternoon, combined energy up to 454, but it’s from the NNE at a poor 7 seconds with onshore wind. Messy, lumpy, and best left for kite surfers.
Thursday August 27th sees 3.5m (12ft) from the NNE at 8 seconds—combined energy hits 1544. Cross-shore winds. That’s a washing machine for experts only, and even they won’t have fun. Friday August 28th drops to 1.2m (4ft) from the ENE with a 9-second period, cross-offshore wind from the WSW at 20 km/h (11 knots), and combined energy of 344. Finally, a clean-looking day, but still punchy.
## Best of the Run
The standout, if you can call it that, is Thursday morning August 13th. Small but clean, with a light offshore breeze. For a real wave, you’re looking at Friday August 28th for cleaner, bigger conditions, but it’s a long wait.
Take it easy out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun night, light winds from the SE by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | SE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 82 | 77 | 62 | 90 | 94 | 106 | 58 | 54 | 76 | 52 | 35 | 42 | 124 | 84 | 33 | 37 | 70 | 21 | 30 | 24 | 22 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 8:36PM2.68m | 8:58AM2.53m | 9:25PM2.71m | 9:48AM2.57m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:08PM0.33m | 2:41AM0.44m | 2:57PM0.30m | 3:31AM0.38m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 82 | 77 | 62 | 90 | 94 | 106 | 45 | 54 | 76 | 52 | 35 | 42 | 124 | 84 | 33 | 37 | 23 | 21 | 30 | 24 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 10 | E 14 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 14 | E 10 |
| kJ | 41 | 27 | 19 | 12 | 12 | 30 | 58 | 41 | 22 | 23 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | N 4 | NNW 5 | NW 7 | N 5 | NW 6 | E 13 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | W 5 | W 12 | E 15 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | NE 10 | E 13 |
| kJ | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | S 4 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | S 3 | SSE 3 | SE 6 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 70 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 144 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 60 | 60 | 52 |
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
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