Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, NNW swell with 1,038 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s 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 Friday (Sep 18) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Look, I'm not gonna sugar-coat it – the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for Tawharanui. We've got a solid blank run ahead with barely a ripple worth paddling out for. Let's get into it.
For the most part, you're lookin' at tiny waves, flat spells, and winds that are either cross-off or offshore but with nothing to push. The whole first week is a dud. From Wednesday the 16th right through to Monday the 21st, it's a whole lot of nothing – swell heights barely scraping 0.3 ft to 0.7 ft, with the occasional bump. The combined wave energy is pitiful, mostly in the single or low double digits (around 13 to 89 on the days it's not zero). There's a brief spike on Friday morning the 18th when a 10 ft NW swell rolls in with 8-second period and a massive 1043 combined energy, but that's only for experts as it's well over 8 ft. The wind is clean (light breeze from WNW), so it'll look mean, but unless you're a seasoned charger, stay on the beach.
After that, it's back to nothing. Saturday and Sunday are full-on offshore winds over 18 mph but with 0.7 ft to 1 ft of weak, messy swell – not worth the paddle. From Monday the 21st through to Tuesday the 1st of October, we're in the doldrums again: near-flat conditions, swell around 0.3 ft to 1 ft, periods mostly short and weak, and combined energy rarely cracking 30 (like 6 to 22 on the best days). Winds stay clean and offshore much of the time, but with no swell to speak of, it's a tease.
Given the lack of any consistent, ridable surf across the whole 16-day window, I'd say this is pretty normal for the area when the swell deserts us. The one real standout – if you're experienced and hungry – is that Friday morning on the 18th. Tawharanui's a beach-and-reef setup, so that 10 ft of NW swell with clean offshore-ish wind (light breeze) could offer something for the crew who know what they're doing. But for everyone else, it's a stretch. The water temp's sitting around 59°F, which is about average for this time of year – nothing to write home about.
So, keep your board waxed and your eyes on the horizon. It tends not to stay this poor for long, and forecasts can change. Hang in there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Wed morning, strong winds from the SW by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NNW 4 | N 5 | N 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | WSW 3 | E 12 | NNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 77 | 112 | 1038 | 143 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 10:31AM2.54m | 10:43PM2.46m | 11:12AM2.44m | 11:25PM2.36m | 11:54AM2.33m | 00:08AM2.26m | 12:39PM2.23m | 00:54AM2.17m | 1:31PM2.15m | 1:44AM2.10m | 2:33PM2.12m | 2:41AM2.07m | 3:38PM2.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:42PM0.64m | 5:03AM0.61m | 5:27PM0.74m | 5:45AM0.71m | 6:16PM0.84m | 6:31AM0.81m | 7:09PM0.93m | 7:20AM0.90m | 8:04PM0.99m | 8:15AM0.96m | 9:00PM1.01m | 9:14AM0.98m | 9:57PM1.00m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 5 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 13 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | E 12 | NNW 8 | NE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | N 6 | NE 8 | E 10 | — | N 9 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 143 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 13 | NE 11 | N 11 | E 13 | E 12 | E 9 | NE 9 | NNW 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 10 | — | — | E 12 | NE 9 |
| kJ | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | E 13 | N 10 | — | E 13 | E 13 | N 7 | N 7 | — | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | N 10 | N 10 | — | E 10 | — |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 2 | — | — | NNW 4 | N 5 | N 6 | NNW 8 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 4 | W 4 | WSW 4 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 3 | W 3 | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | 31 | 77 | 112 | 1038 | 50 | 127 | 63 | 29 | 35 | 61 | 98 | 39 | 24 | 29 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 35 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 202 | 279 | 67 | 359 | 67 | 64 | 0 | 22 | 184 | 152 | 264 | 359 | 175 | 272 | 272 | 202 | 359 | 202 | 359 | 359 | 202 |
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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