
Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, NNW swell with 663 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) 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 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, grab a coffee and settle in. Rusty here, and I’ve just finished staring at the charts for Tawharanui. I’ll be honest, it’s a bit of a mixed bag over the next fortnight, with a fair few flat spells to start and a couple of promising windows later on.
The first week is a real struggle. For the opening days – from Tuesday the 4th right through to around Wednesday the 12th – we’re looking at a big, empty lull. There’s barely a ripple to get excited about; the swell energy is weak as dishwater, with readings in the low double digits or even single digits (16). You’ll be staring at flat, clean water, but that’s about it. Even when a little bump appears, the conditions are just "poor." It’s a solid eight-day gap of nothing doing.
We finally get a tiny pulse of life on Wednesday the 12th. The morning offers up a 3ft swell from the NNE with a clean offshore breeze from the SW – a 72 (weak) for energy. The afternoon turns glassy with a 2ft swell, but it’s still small and ordinary. Not worth paddling out for, but it’s a sign things are stirring.
The weekend of the 9th and 10th brings a bigger, rougher pulse of energy (up to 670), but the wind is a messy cross-onshore, making it a choppy, blown-out mess. That’s a pass from me.
Now, the real standouts are in the second week. Mark your calendars for Saturday the 15th. Early morning, a solid 10ft swell from the ENE hits, packing a massive 2442 (strong) of energy, and it’s being carved up by a fresh offshore wind from the SW. That’s clean, powerful surf, but it’s big. For the experts only, this is your window for a serious session.
Then, the absolute pick of the fortnight lands on Monday the 17th. The afternoon looks unreal: a 8ft swell from the E with a 10-second period, producing 1154 (moderate) of energy, and it’s under a gentle offshore breeze from the SW. Clean, lined-up, and powerful – that’s excellent surf for experienced surfers.
For you beginners, those big days are too much. Look at Sunday the 16th afternoon – 4ft from the ENE with a gentle offshore, or Tuesday the 18th morning with a 5ft E swell and clean cross-off winds. Those are your safer bets for a fun, manageable wave without getting pounded.
So, the first week is a write-off, but the second week brings two proper standouts: the big, clean 10ft swell on the 15th for the crew, and the beautiful 8ft E swell on the 17th afternoon as the best all-round session. It’s a patient game this time, but it’ll pay off for those who wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 6°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the SE by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | NE 13 | N 13 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | NE 11 | E 7 | ESE 6 | N 15 | N 14 | N 14 | NE 15 | NE 16 | N 4 | N 5 | N 7 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 42 | 430 | 663 | 364 | 351 | 372 | 225 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:52AM2.44m | 11:14PM2.51m | 11:36AM2.42m | 11:59PM2.47m | 12:24PM2.39m | 00:49AM2.42m | 1:18PM2.36m | 1:45AM2.38m | 2:22PM2.35m | 2:49AM2.36m | 3:35PM2.38m | 3:59AM2.37m | 4:45PM2.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:04PM0.69m | 5:39AM0.64m | 5:53PM0.75m | 6:28AM0.65m | 6:50PM0.80m | 7:21AM0.65m | 7:52PM0.83m | 8:18AM0.65m | 8:56PM0.82m | 9:20AM0.64m | 10:02PM0.78m | 10:25AM0.60m | 11:08PM0.71m | ||||||||
7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 32 | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 13 | NE 12 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | E 5 | E 7 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | N 13 | N 13 | N 12 | NE 13 | NE 14 | NE 13 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 |
3 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 364 | 351 | 372 | 225 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | N 14 | E 6 | NE 16 | NE 14 | N 12 | E 12 | — | NE 12 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 12 |
6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | — | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 14 | — | N 13 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | N 15 | N 14 | NE 10 | NE 15 | E 6 | N 10 | N 10 | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — |
7 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSE 4 | S 3 | S 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | N 4 | N 5 | N 7 | NNW 8 | WSW 2 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 |
22 | 29 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 9 | 42 | 430 | 663 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 78 | 22 | 73 | 22 | 22 | 64 | 64 | 72 | 64 | 60 | 60 | 64 | 67 | 279 | 102 | 27 | 102 | 102 | 8 | 11 | 1 |
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.











