Tawharanui Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.37° S 174.84° E

Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 29 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 29 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, NNE swell with 437 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9PM. 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 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 9PM (Sat 29th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s call it like it is – this stretch is about as flat as a paddling pool for the next 16 days. It’s a rough run, and I’m not stoked to be the bearer of bad news. There’s a massive gap from now all the way through the first week of September with next to nothing for a surfer. The only slight whisper of activity comes right at the end of the forecast.

The only break we’re talking about is Tawharanui, a beach and reef setup that works best when the swell comes from the northeast. Water temp is 57°F, which is just average for this time of year – nothing off the charts.

Let’s walk through it. Saturday the 29th of August gives us a small window. Morning sees a 5ft north swell with a period around 7 seconds – short period windswell – and the combined energy is moderate at 269. The wind is glassy from the NNW at just 3 mph. That’s as clean as it gets. But the overall quality is low; the wave comment says good, but the score tells a different tale. It’s the best you’ll see, but that’s not saying much. Saturday afternoon turns to trash with heavy rain and a cross-shore SE breeze at 9 mph, chopping it up.

From Sunday the 30th of August, it’s a dead zone. Offshore winds from the SW blow 22-25 mph, cleaning the surface, but the swell drops to 3ft and then smaller. The period sits at 8-9 seconds – not bad for shape – but the height is pathetic. Combined energy drops to weak levels (54, 39). This repeats day after day. Monday through Friday of the first week of September: clean, offshore or cross-offshore winds, but wave heights barely scrape 2ft. Swell from the north or northeast, period around 8-9 seconds, no power at all. You’ll be looking at a flat ocean.

Tuesday the 8th of September brings a bump. A north swell hits 10ft with an 8-second period, combined energy strong at 1188. That’s a lot of water, but the wind is cross-onshore from the north at 16-19 mph, making it choppy and lumpy. The wave comment says poor conditions. That size is big and messy – maybe a few experts could paddle out, but the cross-onshore chop will ruin it. Wednesday the 9th still has some size at 6ft, but again, cross-onshore and messy.

The last hope is Saturday the 12th of September morning. A tiny 1.0ft swell from the northeast, but the period stretches to 12 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell pulse. The offshore wind is moderate from the SSW at 12 mph, making conditions clean. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” and the score is a 1 out of 10. Combined energy is weak at 41. With that long period and tiny height, Tawharanui might see a few distant lines, but they’ll be rare. It’s not a standout, just the only thing on the menu.

Bottom line: it’s a tough outlook. When the swell is this small for this long and the wind keeps cleaning up nothing, you’re just twiddling your thumbs. Things can change, but right now, it’s a flat spell. Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 62mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, strong winds from the SW by Sun afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Tue afternoon). Mainly fresh winds.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
0
0
0
0
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)
1.6
N
7
1.7
N
8
1.7
NNE
8
1.1
NNE
8
0.9
NNE
8
0.7
NE
9
0.6
NNE
9
0.5
NE
9
0.5
NE
10
0.5
NE
9
0.4
NE
9
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
8
0.3
NE
8
0.6
NW
4
0.2
ENE
10
0.7
NNW
4
0.9
NNW
6
0.7
N
6
0.4
NNW
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
269
329
422
157
108
81
54
39
44
43
30
13
12
11
11
11
9
13
55
35
11
Wind (km/h)
5
NNW
15
SE
40
SSW
35
SW
40
SW
35
WSW
25
SW
30
WSW
35
W
35
WSW
35
SW
20
SW
20
WSW
25
WSW
20
WNW
15
NW
20
WNW
20
WNW
25
WNW
25
W
10
WSW
Wind State
glassy
cross
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
12:07PM2.47m
00:34AM2.43m
Low Tide
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
6:05AM0.58m
6:35PM0.76m
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:45
6:43
6:43
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:58
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:00
6:01
 mm
11
37
14
1
Temp °C
14
14
13
15
15
13
15
14
13
14
14
12
14
15
13
16
17
14
18
17
13
Feels °C
14
13
8
8
7
6
9
7
7
7
7
6
9
10
9
12
13
11
14
14
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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