
Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, ESE swell with 232 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with NNE 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 (Aug 12) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s. 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 1.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Tauranga Bay.
To be straight with you, the next 16 days aren’t exactly firing for Tauranga Bay. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak conditions, and the window of good surf is tight. The water temp is sitting right around average for the time of year, so nothing out of the ordinary there.
The first real glimmer comes on Wednesday afternoon, August 12th. We’ve got 4ft of swell from the NNE, with a short 8-second period. The wind turns light and cross-offshore, which is a major positive – it’ll clean things up nicely. The combined energy is moderate (346). This is the best window in the entire outlook, and it’s surfable for beginners, but it’s not a big day.
Thursday the 13th dawns glassy with a light SW offshore. Swell drops to 3ft from the NE, still short period at 8 seconds. The energy is weak (124). It’s surfable, but ordinary. Thursday afternoon goes downhill quick with a cross-onshore breeze.
From Friday the 14th all the way through to Tuesday the 18th, it’s a real struggle. Swell stays under 3ft, most days have poor wind, and the energy drops into double digits, often below 100. There’s a brief moment on Saturday the 15th with clean offshore winds, but the swell is only 2ft. It’s better than nothing, but barely.
Then we hit a real lull. From Wednesday the 19th through to Saturday the 22nd, the swell is tiny – 0.7ft to 1ft – with weak energy (11 to 18). Forget about it. There’s a pulse of 2ft on Sunday the 23rd from the N, but it’s onshore and rainy, so no good.
The last few days of the run, from the 25th to the 27th, have some slightly bigger swell (3ft to 3ft from the ENE/NE), but the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, and we’re looking at stormy conditions, even a risk of thunderstorms. The 27th, Thursday morning, has a clean cross-offshore wind and swell energy of 140, but it’s still only 2ft.
So, the standout is that Wednesday afternoon, August 12th. It’s the only time the swell, wind, and energy come together for a clean, surfable session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
248 | 212 | 143 | 82 | 79 | 59 | 110 | 94 | 88 | 74 | 52 | 39 | 23 | 18 | 85 | 190 | 110 | 48 | 22 | 15 | 21 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:43PM2.61m | 8:04AM2.48m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:15PM0.41m | 1:48AM0.53m | 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 | ||||||||
7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 11 |
Feels °C | 12 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | E 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
248 | 131 | 143 | 82 | 79 | 59 | 110 | 94 | 88 | 74 | 52 | 39 | 19 | 18 | 85 | 190 | 110 | 48 | 22 | 15 | 16 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 8 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ESE 14 |
— | 212 | 71 | 38 | 27 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 23 | 6 | 21 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 21 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 12 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 9 | — | W 16 | — | NE 11 | E 14 | SE 14 | NE 10 |
— | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 12 | 14 | — | 5 | — | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 2 | SSW 2 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | S 4 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
102 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 61 | 65 | 10 |
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











