Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, N swell with 235 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with NNW 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s is also forecast. 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 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Tawharanui has on offer for the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you, it's a pretty bleak run.
We're staring down a long, flat spell. From now, starting with Saturday the 22nd right through to the end of the month, it’s mostly tiny, weak dribble. The water temp is sitting at about 57°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing unusual there. For days on end, we’re looking at swell heights barely hitting 0.7 ft with virtually no energy (readings like 11 or even down to 4 in the combined energy department). Winds are often okay – cross-off or even glassy offshore at times – but there’s just nothing to push that energy onto the exposed NE-facing beach and reef setup. It’s a frustrating wait.
We finally see a pulse of size pushing in on Saturday the 29th of August. Swell hits 5 ft to 6 ft, from the north, with combined energy jumping up to a moderate 238. That’s some proper size. But here’s the kicker – the wind is hammering from the NNW at 19 mph, straight onshore and lumpy. With that much wind and a beach-and-reef break, the quality is going to be nasty. It actually looks more interesting for the kite crew than for paddle surfing.
Things settle a bit into the first week of September, but it’s still not great. We see a few days with 2 ft of swell from the NE and some cleaner winds – the Monday afternoon of the 31st of August has a moderate offshore wind from the SW with 1 ft of NE swell (41 energy), described as just "surfable but very ordinary". The best we can see is Sunday the 6th of September, with a 3 ft NE swell and light S/ESE winds, giving us a combined energy of 83. Again, it’s "surfable but very ordinary". It’s clean, but weak.
Honestly, there are no standouts here. The best windows are just barely surfable. If you're desperate, look at the 3 ft days on the 6th of September with light winds, but don't expect much. It’s a tough stretch at Tawharanui.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 10 | N 12 | E 13 | E 12 | N 13 | NE 10 | E 12 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | N 4 | N 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 8 | 8 | 44 | 39 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 45 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:15PM2.16m | 2:28AM2.13m | 3:21PM2.13m | 3:28AM2.09m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:42PM0.99m | 8:56AM0.96m | 9:38PM1.03m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — |
 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | N 4 | NE 13 | NE 13 | N 6 | NNW 5 | N 5 | S 3 | NE 10 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 16 | NE 14 | NE 14 | E 13 | E 13 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | N 12 | N 4 | N 11 | — |
| kJ | 5 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 7 | E 10 | NE 10 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 10 | N 12 | N 8 | — | N 13 | — | E 12 | E 12 | N 12 | E 10 | N 11 | E 10 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 2 | — | W 2 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 2 | W 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | N 4 | N 5 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 1 | 44 | 39 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | 45 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 66 | 359 | 359 | 359 | 369 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 102 | 102 | 256 | 64 | 67 | 279 | 102 |
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.
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