Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, N swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, N swell with 221 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m 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 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, it’s a quiet stretch for Tawharanui. Starting Monday, August 24th, the surf is flat as a pancake. A tiny 0.3ft NE swell with an 11-second period, but the energy is weak (10) – you’ve got a clear morning with a light offshore breeze, but there’s nothing to ride. That’s the story through the week: small, weak swell, and even with clean offshore winds, the wave heights barely touch 0.7ft. The water temp is 57°F, about 0.7°F cooler than average for this time of year – not a big deal, just a little chilly.
By Friday, August 28th, the swell bumps up to 3ft to 4ft from the N, but the period drops to a short 5 seconds. That’s windswell, not groundswell, and it’s coming with a stiff 19 mph cross-onshore N wind. The energy climbs to 47 and 69, but it’s lumpy and messy. Not worth paddling out for.
The weekend of the 29th and 30th gets a little better: Saturday morning has 3ft from the N with a 6-second period, energy at 84, and a light cross-offshore WSW wind at 9 mph. The waves are “surfable” but very ordinary. Winds turn more offshore in the afternoon, but it’s still a marginal day. Sunday sees a cleaner offshore breeze, but the swell drops back to 2ft.
Into the first week of September, the trend holds. There’s a tiny spike on Tuesday, September 1st afternoon, with 3ft from the ENE at 6 seconds and energy hitting 103 – that’s moderate energy, but it’s short-period and the winds are moderate offshore. Still, it’s the best you’ll see. After that, it’s back to 0.7ft to 1ft dross for the next week.
The standout? Honestly, there’s no real standout. Wednesday, September 2nd and Thursday, September 3rd have clean offshore winds but the swell is too small. The most promising day is probably Tuesday, September 1st afternoon with that 3ft ENE swell and moderate offshore winds, but don’t expect anything epic. For a break like Tawharanui (beach and reef), it’s inconsistent and rarely breaks with this kind of weak energy. The long gaps – days at a time with nothing – are a real downer.
If you’re a kite surfer, the breezy afternoons with side-offshore winds and small chop might be more interesting than waiting for a wave. But for a paddle surfer, this is a tough 16-day outlook. The near-term calls are reliable – it’s just flat. Long-range, there’s nothing promising. It tends not to stay this poor for long around here, so forecasts can change, but for now, I’d leave the boards at home.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Thu morning, fresh winds from the N by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | N 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | N 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | NNE 9 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 34 | 57 | 134 | 49 | 70 | 70 | 32 | 45 | 33 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 4:24PM2.16m | 4:29AM2.11m | 5:16PM2.23m | 5:24AM2.16m | 6:01PM2.33m | 6:12AM2.25m | 6:41PM2.42m | 6:57AM2.34m | 7:21PM2.50m | 7:39AM2.43m | 8:01PM2.56m | 8:21AM2.50m | 8:42PM2.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:53AM0.98m | 10:35PM1.03m | 10:52AM0.96m | 11:29PM0.99m | 11:47AM0.89m | 00:18AM0.92m | 12:35PM0.80m | 1:01AM0.82m | 1:18PM0.71m | 1:43AM0.73m | 1:59PM0.63m | 2:24AM0.64m | 2:38PM0.58m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | — | — | NE 10 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | N 3 | — | NNE 9 | NE 9 | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | E 12 | N 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NE 10 |
2 | — | — | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 8 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 49 | 70 | 70 | 32 | 45 | 33 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | — | E 13 | E 12 | — | E 12 | NE 10 | NE 10 | — | NE 7 | E 11 | N 11 | — | NE 7 | NNW 7 | NNE 10 | NE 9 | NNW 6 | N 5 |
5 | 5 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 31 | 25 | 9 | 31 | 10 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 12 | N 12 | E 13 | — | — | N 13 | N 10 | E 12 | E 12 | E 9 | — | E 9 | E 11 | — | E 14 | E 13 | NNE 11 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 4 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 2 | WSW 2 | WSW 3 | — | WNW 3 | WSW 3 | — | NNW 2 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | WNW 3 | WNW 2 | WNW 3 | NW 4 | WSW 3 | SW 4 |
3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 15 | 34 | 57 | 134 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 24 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 359 | 256 | 102 | 279 | 64 | 359 | 67 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
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.











