Tawharanui Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.37° S 174.84° E

Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tawharanui sea temperature is
13.8°C
0.7° 

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


Tawharanui surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, N swell with 790 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 6PM. 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 6PM (Sat 29th Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, checkin' in with a look ahead at Tawharanui.

To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are lookin' pretty bleak for a proper paddle. We've got a long stretch of flat, weak junk ahead with very little to get excited about. The first real blip of interest doesn't show up until Saturday the 7th of September, and even that comes with a major catch.

Right now, through the end of August and into the first week of September, it's mostly small, weak, and messy. There's a bump on Saturday the 30th of August with a 3 ft swell from the NNE and a fresh offshore breeze from the WSW, but it's only 8 seconds, and the wave energy is weak (152). Sunday the 31st and beyond just fades into tiny 1 ft to 2 ft dribble with hardly any push. You'd be better off takin' the dog for a walk.

The one standout in the whole run is late Monday afternoon on the 7th of September. We get a serious pulse of energy – a 12 ft swell from the north with a solid 9-second period. The combined energy is 1631, which is strong. The problem is, that's way too much water for Tawharanui. The forecast literally says it's too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and honestly, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing in that kind of juice. The wind is rippin' at 28 mph from the west, keepin' it clean, but that size and power will just close out the beach.

Tuesday the 8th drops back down to 3 ft from the north, but with moderate onshores, it'll be choppy and sloppy again. After that, it's back to tiny, clean but tiny surf all the way through the 12th.

So, the bottom line: if you're an expert, mark your calendar for that massive Monday the 7th, but know it's a beast. For everyone else, this is a blank run. It happens sometimes. Forecasts can change, but right now, the waiting game is on.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Sat morning, fresh winds from the SW by Sun night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Mon night, light winds from the WSW by Tue night).

Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
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
1
2
1
0
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)
1
N
5
1.2
N
5
1.4
N
6
1.4
N
7
2.3
N
8
1.6
N
8
0.9
NNE
8
0.8
NNE
8
0.7
NE
9
0.7
NNE
9
0.4
NE
10
0.5
NE
9
0.5
NE
9
0.4
NE
9
0.4
NE
9
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
8
0.3
NE
10
0.3
NE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
47
77
148
200
684
367
107
78
83
70
24
43
41
31
31
12
11
16
17
10
10
Wind (km/h)
25
NNE
25
N
25
N
10
ENE
25
SSE
30
SW
30
WSW
35
WSW
35
WSW
35
SW
30
WSW
30
W
30
WSW
30
WSW
20
SW
15
W
20
WSW
15
W
15
W
20
W
15
WNW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:21PM2.50m
7:39AM2.43m
8:01PM2.56m
8:21AM2.50m
8:42PM2.60m
9:03AM2.54m
9:24PM2.61m
9:46AM2.55m
10:07PM2.59m
10:30AM2.54m
10:53PM2.55m
11:17AM2.51m
11:41PM2.49m
Low Tide
1:18PM0.71m
1:43AM0.73m
1:59PM0.63m
2:24AM0.64m
2:38PM0.58m
3:04AM0.58m
3:18PM0.56m
3:46AM0.54m
3:59PM0.58m
4:29AM0.53m
4:44PM0.63m
5:15AM0.55m
5:36PM0.69m
cloud
cloud
rain showers
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:47
6:45
6:43
6:43
6:41
6:39
6:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:58
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:00
 mm
3
10
24
1
Temp °C
15
15
15
14
13
12
15
15
13
13
13
13
15
14
12
14
15
12
14
15
15
Feels °C
10
10
11
12
9
5
8
9
6
6
6
7
8
8
7
9
10
9
11
11
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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