
Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, NNW swell with 417 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with E 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) 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 1.3m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day crew, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking for Tawharanui over the next couple of weeks, in feet and Fahrenheit for those who think that way. I’ve got to be honest – it’s a long, flat, frustrating stretch ahead. Patience is key.
The only real blip of action is on Friday the 31st of July. A northwest-northwest swell shows up around 7ft in the morning (combined energy 753), but the period is a short 7 seconds – that’s windswell, not proper groundswell. The wind’s cross-off from the west-northwest at 12 mph, so the faces will be clean, but that short period means lumpy, disorganised waves. Tawharanui (exposed to the northeast, optimum swell from the northeast) isn’t ideally lined up for this northwest pulse, so the shape will be off. Still, it’s the only surfable size in the whole outlook – surfable but ordinary. By the afternoon, the swell drops to 5ft (combined energy 318) and the wind picks up to 19 mph, making it more of a fight than a fun session. Only for experienced surfers at that size.
From Saturday the 1st of August onward, it’s a desert. Tiny dribbles – 1ft to 1ft – with offshore winds but barely any juice. The combined energy numbers are all below 100, often in the teens or thirties. You’d get more action in a wading pool. That flatness runs all the way through to at least Tuesday the 11th of August, with only a brief spike to 4ft on Wednesday the 5th of August – but that’s from the northwest again with a pathetic 5-second period and combined energy of just 78. Don’t hold your breath.
Water temp is about 58°F, which is 0.9°F below average for this time of year – nothing extreme, just your typical winter chill.
So, bottom line: Friday the 31st of July morning is your only real chance, and even then it’s not pretty. Everything else is a write-off. This stretch looks more like a kite-surfing window than a paddling one, given the wind and lack of swell. Stay tuned, forecasts can change. Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | ESE 12 | N 5 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | E 11 | NNW 6 | E 11 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
48 | 52 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 88 | 84 | 86 | 77 | 72 | 47 | 86 | 417 | 264 | 82 | 23 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:49PM2.26m | 5:55AM2.19m | 6:32PM2.33m | 6:40AM2.24m | 7:12PM2.40m | 7:22AM2.31m | 7:51PM2.47m | 8:04AM2.37m | 8:30PM2.52m | 8:45AM2.41m | 9:09PM2.55m | 9:27AM2.44m | 9:49PM2.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:24AM0.94m | 00:00AM0.96m | 12:17PM0.88m | 00:48AM0.92m | 1:04PM0.80m | 1:32AM0.85m | 1:46PM0.72m | 2:13AM0.78m | 2:26PM0.66m | 2:53AM0.72m | 3:04PM0.62m | 3:33AM0.67m | 3:42PM0.62m | ||||||||
7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | -2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | N 7 | E 11 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | E 11 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 14 |
48 | 52 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 88 | 84 | 86 | 77 | 72 | 47 | 43 | 286 | 37 | 82 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 6 | — | N 11 | E 5 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | — | E 12 | NE 11 | E 11 | NE 18 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | NE 15 | E 10 | SE 5 | E 12 |
4 | 6 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 5 | 37 | 12 | 23 | 23 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | — | N 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 19 | NE 18 | NE 11 | NE 17 | NE 16 | NE 16 | N 6 | N 6 | E 10 | E 10 |
3 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | S 3 | S 3 | S 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 5 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | WSW 4 | W 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 3 | SSW 3 | S 4 |
5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 9 | 7 | 22 | 86 | 417 | 264 | 52 | 35 | 50 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 33 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 61 | 59 | 7 | 27 | 92 | 369 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 197 | 22 | 162 | 183 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










