
Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, N swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, NNW swell with 652 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period with N 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 (Aug 10) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's get real about this forecast. We're staring down a mostly flat, frustrating first week or so. From Friday, August 7th, through the middle of the next week, Tawharanui is going to be a total dud. The ocean will be glassy at times, but there's just no push. A bit of swell tries to show up on Sunday the 9th, but it's sloppy and chopped up by strong north winds, so it's a full write-off. You won't miss a thing.
We get one tiny glimmer on Monday morning, the 10th. The wind goes light offshore from the SW, and there's a small `4ft` swell from the north with a period of 8 seconds. The wave energy is moderate, but honestly, it's still weak and inconsistent at this exposed break. It might look clean, but it's knee-high and not worth the paddle. The rest of that week is a mix of onshores, junky wind, or just nothing to ride. When a bigger pulse arrives on the 14th, it's a messy `7ft` of short-period slop with strong cross-onshore winds. That's just a close-out mess, and this beach and reef setup will be more fun for the kite surfers than anyone with a paddle.
The drop in swell through the 15th and 16th doesn't bring any good conditions either. The following week starts flat again, and while the offshore winds on the 18th and 19th will keep the surface clean, there's nothing to ride.
Now, pay attention to your calendar for Saturday, August 22nd. That's the one. The morning is the real deal. We've got a proper long-period groundswell from the north-northwest filling in, with a light offshore wind and a solid `5ft` swell at 11 seconds. The energy reading is massive, signaling some real power. That offshore wind will have the waves groomed and hollow. The direction is a bit off the optimum, but with that much period and clean conditions, it should produce some cracking, well-shaped waves on the reef. This is absolutely the best morning of this entire 16-day window.
The afternoon is a completely different story. The swell is forecast to jack up to a monstrous `11ft`, pushing the energy levels off the charts. That's a serious, dangerous amount of water. This isn't for beginners and is definitely expert-only, and probably too big for the break itself, resulting in a heavy close-out. The morning is the window you want. The afternoon is for the crazy ones, and even then, I'd be cautious.
So, there's a long drought, but a real gem to chase on the 22nd. It's a ways out, so treat it as promising, not guaranteed, but it’s got all the right ingredients for a proper session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat night, min 7°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Tue morning, calm by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 14 | N 14 | NE 15 | NE 16 | NE 14 | N 5 | N 6 | N 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | N 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 42 | 144 | 263 | 364 | 207 | 163 | 110 | 109 | 226 | 266 | 168 | 142 | 91 | 105 | 98 | 442 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | on |
High Tide | 1:18PM2.36m | 1:45AM2.38m | 2:22PM2.35m | 2:49AM2.36m | 3:35PM2.38m | 3:59AM2.37m | 4:45PM2.47m | 5:07AM2.44m | 5:45PM2.59m | 6:08AM2.53m | 6:38PM2.70m | 7:03AM2.61m | 7:29PM2.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:52PM0.83m | 8:18AM0.65m | 8:56PM0.82m | 9:20AM0.64m | 10:02PM0.78m | 10:25AM0.60m | 11:08PM0.71m | 11:32AM0.53m | 00:11AM0.62m | 12:33PM0.44m | 1:07AM0.52m | 1:27PM0.36m | 1:58AM0.45m | ||||||||
7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | NE 14 | NE 13 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | NE 11 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 7 | NE 10 | NNE 10 | E 16 |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 364 | 207 | 163 | 110 | 109 | 5 | 266 | 168 | 142 | 91 | 26 | 38 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | N 14 | N 13 | E 6 | NE 14 | NE 13 | N 12 | N 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | — | — | — | — | N 12 | — | E 13 | — |
4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 14 | NE 10 | NE 15 | NE 16 | E 6 | E 12 | — | — | E 12 | E 11 | — | — | — | N 13 | — | — | — | — | N 11 | N 11 | — |
4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 2 | N 5 | N 6 | N 7 | SE 2 | S 3 | — | — | ENE 4 | N 7 | — | WSW 3 | — | — | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | N 8 |
— | — | — | — | 1 | 42 | 144 | 263 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 19 | 226 | — | 1 | — | — | 105 | 98 | 442 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 60 | 202 | 102 | 64 | 64 | 168 | 8 | 64 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 67 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 67 | 67 |
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.











