Surf Forecasts:
Tauranga Bay surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, NNW swell with 125 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 1.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tauranga Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’.
Honestly, the next week and a half is a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a long, flat spell with hardly any energy to speak of. The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until the very end of the run, but it’s a long way off.
Right from Tuesday the 8th through to the 21st of September, it’s pretty grim. The swell is tiny, mostly 0.7ft to 2ft, with a few pulses of 5ft on the 16th and 21st, but that junk is coming from the NW or N with a pitiful period of 4 to 6 seconds. That’s pure wind chop, not worth paddling out for. The combined energy is weak, usually under 100 (45, 28, 20), spiking to 216 on the 16th but still with that short, bumpy period. The winds are mostly cross-off, which keeps the water clean, but there’s just no power behind it. For a beginner-friendly spot like Tauranga Bay, it’s a total bust.
The one standout that has my attention is the morning of Tuesday the 22nd of September. Tauranga Bay is finally going to see some proper swell. A solid 8ft of NE swell, with a period of 8 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving. The wind is a clean cross-off from the ESE, so the surface will be glassy. The combined energy is a hefty 922 (moderate to strong). This is a solid, chunky wave. It’s not for beginners, though—anything over 5ft starts to get serious, and at 8ft, it’s expert territory. But if you’ve got the skills, that morning session is the best on offer in the whole 16-day window.
The afternoon of the 22nd looks even bigger, with 10ft from the NE and a combined energy of 1195. That’s a powerful swell, though the wind will be a little stronger. This is a big, powerful ocean. The 23rd is even bigger, with 12ft from the NE and a combined energy of 2755. That’s very strong wave energy, but the wind goes cross-shore, making it lumpy. Still, it’s a monster swell for the end of the run.
So, for the next week, keep the board in the car and the wax in the bag. The 22nd of September is the date to circle. It’s a long way off, but it looks like the real deal.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Fri morning, light winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 7 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 15 | NE 16 | NE 14 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NNE 15 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 161 | 41 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 36 | 40 | 30 | 56 | 73 | 42 | 62 | 61 | 44 | 44 | 42 | 42 | 40 | 24 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:46AM2.27m | 5:30PM2.40m | 5:54AM2.31m | 6:29PM2.48m | 6:53AM2.37m | 7:23PM2.56m | 7:47AM2.45m | 8:12PM2.61m | 8:37AM2.51m | 8:58PM2.63m | 9:24AM2.56m | 9:41PM2.61m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:31PM0.78m | 10:58AM0.62m | 11:36PM0.70m | 12:02PM0.54m | 00:35AM0.60m | 12:58PM0.45m | 1:29AM0.50m | 1:48PM0.38m | 2:19AM0.42m | 2:34PM0.37m | 3:04AM0.38m | 3:19PM0.40m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 14 | ENE 9 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 |
| kJ | 161 | 41 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 73 | 33 | 62 | 61 | 44 | 44 | 42 | 42 | 40 | 24 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | ENE 10 | NNW 6 | NE 15 | ESE 3 | NE 14 | NE 15 | NE 8 | NE 13 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NW 5 |
| kJ | 8 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 36 | 2 | 30 | 56 | 18 | 27 | 33 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 16 | NE 10 | NE 10 | WNW 8 | NE 15 | NNW 6 | NE 16 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NE 10 | NNE 15 | SE 6 | SE 7 | NE 12 | NE 12 | SE 7 | N 14 | N 14 | E 8 |
| kJ | 10 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | SW 3 | — | — | SE 5 | E 3 | — | — | NW 3 | NW 5 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 2 | WSW 2 | WSW 2 |
| kJ | 8 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 4 | 24 | 5 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 17 | 101 | 60 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 94 | 3 | 253 | 287 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 432 |
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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