Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, E swell with 166 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. 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 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 12PM. 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 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Well, the wait is gonna be a bit of a test of patience. The first few days are pretty ordinary, with tiny 1ft to 2ft ESE swell and weak energy. It’s surfable but nothing to get excited about. The water’s sitting at 62°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Then we get a little bump on the 21st of July, Tuesday. The swell picks up to 4ft from the ESE, but the period is a short, choppy 7 seconds. It’s clean with cross-offshore winds, but the energy is only moderate. It’s okay, but not a standout.
The real gem is sitting there on the 27th and 28th of July. That’s where the magic happens. The 27th, Monday morning, we’ve got a 4ft SE swell with clean offshore winds, and by the afternoon it’s glassy with 6ft from the ESE. That’s strong energy. But the 28th, Tuesday morning, is the true standout. A solid 6ft E swell rolling in with a clean 10-second period and strong energy. The wind is offshore and light, so it’s gonna be clean and lined up. The break is Tauranga Bay, which is consistent and beginner-friendly, but with this size, it’s more of a fun, manageable wave for most. Crowds are rare here, so you’ll have plenty of room.
After that, the 29th of July still has some decent 5ft E swell, but the wind gets a bit messy with a cross-shore, so it’s not as clean as the day before.
Then it fades out again into the start of August, with tiny 1ft to 2ft swells and weak energy, so not much to write home about.
So, the standout is absolutely the 28th of July, Tuesday morning. Get it while it’s good. The 27th afternoon is a close second.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the NW by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 6 | E 6 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | N 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 163 | 116 | 113 | 70 | 57 | 51 | 49 | 48 | 143 | 157 | 44 | 24 | 20 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 49 | 119 | 89 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:23PM2.69m | 11:48AM2.50m | 00:10AM2.61m | 12:35PM2.45m | 00:56AM2.52m | 1:23PM2.37m | 1:42AM2.42m | 2:13PM2.30m | 2:28AM2.32m | 3:08PM2.23m | 3:16AM2.24m | 4:06PM2.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:56PM0.36m | 5:31AM0.40m | 5:44PM0.47m | 6:18AM0.47m | 6:32PM0.60m | 7:04AM0.55m | 7:21PM0.74m | 7:52AM0.66m | 8:11PM0.86m | 8:42AM0.76m | 9:05PM0.96m | 9:34AM0.83m | 10:02PM1.02m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 20 | 13 |
Temp °C | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | N 7 |
| kJ | 163 | 116 | 113 | 70 | 57 | 51 | 49 | 48 | 27 | 107 | 44 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 89 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 | N 8 | N 6 | N 8 | NNE 8 | ESE 11 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | E 7 |
| kJ | 5 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 25 | 12 | 22 | 20 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | — | W 18 | W 18 | S 4 | — | NE 8 | NE 8 | N 7 | N 7 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | NE 8 | — | E 9 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 3 | — | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | S 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 143 | 157 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 49 | 119 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 92 | 112 | 518 | 15 |
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
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