Tawharanui Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.37° S 174.84° E

Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 01 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tawharanui sea temperature is
14.2°C
0.3° 

Tawharanui surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Tawharanui surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period, N swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, NNW swell with 512 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.8m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sat 5th Sep)2ft (0.6m) 7s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 5th Sep)2ft (0.6m) 7s
Most Powerful 6AM (Mon 7th Sep)6ft (1.8m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Right then, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Tawharanui.

Honestly, it’s a tough start. We’re looking at a long, flat stretch with nothing worthwhile for the first week and a half. From Wednesday the 2nd right through to the end of Saturday the 12th, it’s a real desert. The swell is tiny, mostly under 1 foot, the wind is messy, and the combined swell energy is in the weak double digits and low triple digits (16 to 94). You’d be wasting your time. There’s a bit of a pulse on the Monday the 7th with a 6 foot NNW swell, but with 22-25 mph cross-off winds and a score that’s still a zero, it’s just a blown-out, messy 6 feet. Not worth paddling out for.

The only real light at the end of the tunnel is a promising but less certain long-range stand-out on Sunday the 13th of September. The morning looks clean and clear with a light WSW breeze, cross-off, and a solid 8 foot north swell with an 8-second period. That’s a decent groundswell pushing in, and the combined energy rockets up to 673 – that’s strong wave energy. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about. The afternoon holds even better, with the same 8 foot north swell and a bit more energy at 744, still glassy with a light WNW cross-off. This is the pick of the entire forecast. That 8 feet is going to be a bit heavy for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of experience, Tawharanui’s beach and reef setup should be handling that north swell nicely. The crowds are likely to be there, given it’s been flat for so long, but the quality should be worth the company.

The following Monday the 14th drops off quickly to a 4 foot NNE swell, and it’s back to ordinary conditions by the afternoon. The Tuesday the 15th is similar, with 4 foot N swells and clean cross-off winds, but they’re rated as poor surf. After that, on the 16th and 17th, it’s back to tiny dribble with strong offshore winds.

So, keep your eyes on that Sunday the 13th. That’s your one true stand-out. Everything else is a waiting game.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, strong winds from the W by Mon afternoon).

Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
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)
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
8
0.2
ENE
8
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.6
NNW
5
0.8
NNW
5
0.6
N
5
0.6
N
7
0.2
ENE
10
0.1
NE
11
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.9
N
5
2
NNW
8
1.7
NNW
6
1
NNW
8
0.5
N
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
14
13
11
7
9
10
18
31
19
32
10
5
10
9
36
498
196
123
27
Wind (km/h)
20
WSW
20
W
25
WSW
15
WNW
20
WNW
20
W
20
NW
25
NW
30
WNW
15
WSW
15
WSW
20
WSW
5
W
25
NNW
20
NNW
30
WNW
35
W
40
W
25
SW
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
10:07PM2.59m
10:30AM2.54m
10:53PM2.55m
11:17AM2.51m
11:41PM2.49m
12:07PM2.47m
00:34AM2.43m
1:04PM2.42m
1:32AM2.37m
2:09PM2.39m
2:37AM2.34m
3:21PM2.41m
Low Tide
4:29AM0.53m
4:44PM0.63m
5:15AM0.55m
5:36PM0.69m
6:05AM0.58m
6:35PM0.76m
7:00AM0.62m
7:39PM0.80m
8:01AM0.66m
8:45PM0.81m
9:06AM0.68m
9:51PM0.78m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:02
6:04
6:04
 mm
1
1
1
7
2
4
Temp °C
13
15
16
14
16
17
14
16
15
14
15
15
12
16
18
16
14
14
13
Feels °C
8
9
11
11
12
13
11
11
10
12
12
11
10
12
15
10
7
6
9
  • 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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