Tawharanui Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.37° S 174.84° E

Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 16 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tawharanui sea temperature is
14.9°C
0.2° 

Tawharanui surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Tawharanui surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, NNE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NNE swell with 561 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period with NNE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:

The surf forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Fri 18th Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s
Best Surf 6AM (Fri 18th Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s
Most Powerful 9AM (Fri 18th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Righto, it’s been a slow one lately. Tawharanui is not firing at all, I’m sorry to say. There’s basically nothing on the cards for a long stretch here. We’ve got a gap of nearly two weeks from the start of the outlook right through to the beginning of October before anything worth paddling out for shows up. The water temp is sitting at 59°F which is about normal for this time of year.

The only hint of something half-decent is on the morning of Thursday the 1st of October, when a 5ft swell rolls in from the ENE with a short period of 6 seconds. Combined energy is moderate (163), so there’ll be some push to it. It’s still marked as poor surf conditions though, and the wind will be a light cross-offshore breeze, keeping things reasonably clean. The waves won’t have much shape, and with that short period they’ll be a bit crumbly and soft. This one is for the keen lads who don’t mind a grovel.

Honestly, if there’s no swell showing for three-quarters of the window, you know it’s a tough patch. Tawharanui is fairly consistent as a rule, so this quiet spell is unusual. Keep an eye on the forecast though – things can turn around quick.

Stay patient,

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Fri morning). Mainly strong winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sun morning, light winds from the W by Mon night).

Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
13
0.1
NE
13
0.1
NE
12
0.9
N
5
1.2
N
6
1.3
N
6
2.1
NNE
8
1.2
NNE
8
0.5
NE
8
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.5
NNW
6
0.3
NNW
7
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.3
NW
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
6
7
6
34
85
132
561
172
30
13
14
9
20
10
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
10
WSW
10
NNW
25
NNW
35
N
25
NNE
40
SSW
40
SSW
35
SW
35
WSW
35
WSW
30
W
30
WSW
35
SW
25
SW
15
SW
25
WSW
15
W
15
W
25
W
25
W
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:31AM2.54m
10:43PM2.46m
11:12AM2.44m
11:25PM2.36m
11:54AM2.33m
00:08AM2.26m
12:39PM2.23m
00:54AM2.17m
1:31PM2.15m
1:44AM2.10m
2:33PM2.12m
2:41AM2.07m
3:38PM2.15m
Low Tide
4:42PM0.64m
5:03AM0.61m
5:27PM0.74m
5:45AM0.71m
6:16PM0.84m
6:31AM0.81m
7:09PM0.93m
7:20AM0.90m
8:04PM0.99m
8:15AM0.96m
9:00PM1.01m
9:14AM0.98m
9:57PM1.00m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
mod rain
mod rain
light rain
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:11
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:10
6:12
6:13
6:14
6:15
6:15
6:15
 mm
9
7
5
Temp °C
13
15
14
16
16
14
11
12
13
16
15
14
15
15
12
14
14
12
17
17
15
Feels °C
10
12
10
10
10
10
3
3
6
10
9
8
10
8
5
9
8
9
14
12
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Tawharanui Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Tawharanui provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tawharanui can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tawharanui 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 (Tawharanui) 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 Tawharanui 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.

Tawharanui is 48 km (30 miles) from the city of Northshore. If you plan a holiday in Northland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Northshore. Northshore has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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