
Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, N swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, N swell with 388 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Tawharanui. To be honest, this stretch looks pretty flat and unexciting for a while. We’ve got a long dry spell here, so don’t get your hopes up early.
The first bit of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show until Monday morning the 7th of September, and even then it’s not great. That morning brings a 7 ft north swell, but it’s a short-period windswell at 7 seconds, and the wind is a cross-shore from the NW at 12 mph. The combined energy is moderate (390), but the report says poor surf conditions, and I’m not stoked on it either – it’ll be choppy. Monday afternoon drops to 5 ft from the NNW, with a cleaner cross-off breeze, but still nothing to write home about.
Tuesday the 8th sees a small drop: 3 ft on the north swell in the morning, with clean offshore SW winds at 12 mph. It’s surfable but ordinary. The combined energy is weak (92). That afternoon the swell fades further to 2 ft and the wind picks up to 19 mph – fresh offshore, but the energy is tiny (51).
From Wednesday the 9th right through to the morning of Saturday the 19th of September, it’s a flat spell. Swell heights hover around 0.3 ft to 1.0 ft, with combined energy readings mostly below 50. That’s basically a lake. You’ll see a lot of offshore winds, but without any swell, it doesn’t matter. This gap lasts about 11 days with no surf.
Now, the one bright spot in this whole forecast is Sunday the 20th of September. Sunday morning looks promising. We’ve got a 8 ft NNE swell, period 8 seconds, and moderate offshore WSW winds at 16 mph. The combined energy jumps up to 576 (strong). That’s the standout window. The report says expect very good surf conditions. That’s the morning session to aim for. The afternoon on the 20th holds similar 8 ft swell but the wind goes cross-off, and the energy stays high (655), though the score drops a notch.
Sunday’s surf is solid but the 8 ft size is getting into expert territory – not for beginners. The swell direction (NNE) is close to optimum for Tawharanui (NE), so the break should handle it well. Expect crowds to be likely here – this spot can get busy.
After that, Monday the 21st brings 5 ft to 6 ft NNE swells with fresh cross-off winds, but the quality is called poor, and Tuesday the 22nd drops to 4 ft with strong offshore winds that make paddling tough.
Water temperature is unremarkable right now – about average for the time of year, so no surprise there.
Honestly, if you can wait, Sunday the 20th is the only day that’s got proper energy and clean conditions. The rest is a long flat spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue morning, light winds from the SSW by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Wed night, strong winds from the SW by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | N 7 | NNW 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | ENE 8 | NNE 14 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NNE 14 | NNE 14 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | NNE 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
154 | 388 | 232 | 156 | 80 | 41 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 36 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 2:37AM2.34m | 3:21PM2.41m | 3:47AM2.37m | 4:28PM2.49m | 4:54AM2.43m | 5:26PM2.59m | 5:53AM2.53m | 6:18PM2.68m | 6:46AM2.61m | 7:06PM2.74m | 7:35AM2.66m | 7:51PM2.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:06AM0.68m | 9:51PM0.78m | 10:15AM0.65m | 10:56PM0.71m | 11:19AM0.59m | 11:55PM0.62m | 12:17PM0.51m | 00:47AM0.53m | 1:07PM0.44m | 1:35AM0.47m | 1:53PM0.41m | 2:19AM0.43m | |||||||
— | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | E 9 | NNW 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNE 14 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | NNE 13 |
3 | 2 | 232 | 156 | 80 | 41 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 36 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | NE 16 | NE 17 | NE 15 | N 6 | NE 14 | NNE 14 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | NE 12 | NE 13 | E 11 |
— | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 30 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 16 | — | E 10 | NE 8 | S 3 | N 6 | N 18 | NE 16 | ENE 7 | NNE 14 | NE 13 | NE 12 | E 9 | N 16 | N 16 |
— | — | — | — | 10 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 7 | — | — | S 3 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | S 3 | — | W 3 | W 3 | WNW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 4 |
154 | 388 | — | — | 5 | 12 | 16 | 3 | — | 3 | 5 | 11 | 28 | 59 | 38 | 26 | 58 | 62 | 29 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 148 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 72 | 60 | 22 | 59 | 22 | 359 | 22 | 132 | 183 | 22 | 28 | 162 | 78 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










