Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, NW swell with 69 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) 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 1.5m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim stretch for Tawharanui. We’re looking at a long, quiet period with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The first sniff of any real energy doesn’t show up until the back half of the forecast, and even then, it’s messy.
For the first week, from Tuesday morning all the way through to the end of the month, it’s mostly flat. You’ll see tiny waves, mostly under 2 ft, with weak energy readings (in the low tens and twenties). The wind is all over the place – cross-off, cross-shore, and sometimes a fresh breeze – but the swell just isn’t there. It’s a real desert. There’s a brief pulse on Sunday the 23rd of August with a 4 ft swell from the NW, but it’s a short-period, junky 5-second windswell, and the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-off. That’s a pass from me.
The first real chance of something to ride comes around Sunday the 30th of August. That afternoon, we see a 4 ft swell from the NNE, with moderate energy (124). The wind is a light cross-shore, so it won’t be totally blown out, but it’s still not special. That trend carries into Monday the 31st of August morning with a similar 4 ft swell, but the wind is still cross-shore.
Now, the standout – and I mean the only thing that gets my heart rate up – is that pulse on Tuesday the 1st of September. An 8 ft NE swell, with a 9-second period, and a massive combined energy of 1635. That’s serious power. But here’s the catch: the wind is onshore from the NE at 9 mph. For a beach-and-reef setup like Tawharanui, that’s gonna be a lumpy, choppy mess. It’s really only for the experienced crew, and even then, you’ll be battling the wind. The water is sitting at 58°, which is pretty average for this time of year.
So, the honest truth? There’s nothing here I’d call a good surf day. The best of a bad bunch is that Tuesday morning, but it’s a compromised session. The rest is a long wait. It’s one of those stretches where the forecast can change, but for now, keep your board in the car and your expectations low.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed morning, light winds from the WSW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 7 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | N 16 | N 14 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | E 12 | E 12 | N 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 39 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 69 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:04AM2.57m | 11:18PM2.56m | 11:48AM2.47m | 00:02AM2.44m | 12:32PM2.36m | 00:47AM2.32m | 1:20PM2.25m | 1:35AM2.21m | 2:15PM2.16m | 2:28AM2.13m | 3:21PM2.13m | 3:28AM2.09m | 4:24PM2.16m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:14PM0.61m | 5:42AM0.59m | 6:02PM0.73m | 6:26AM0.70m | 6:53PM0.84m | 7:13AM0.81m | 7:47PM0.93m | 8:03AM0.90m | 8:42PM0.99m | 8:56AM0.96m | 9:38PM1.03m | 9:53AM0.98m | 10:35PM1.03m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | |
 | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 5 | N 5 | — |
| kJ | 39 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 26 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 2 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | NE 10 | N 10 | N 10 | SE 5 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 16 | N 14 | E 9 | E 13 | NE 13 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 10 | N 10 | E 12 | — | — | — | E 11 | — | — | N 9 | — | — | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | N 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 3 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 4 | — | — | — | SSW 2 | — | — | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NW 4 | NW 5 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 2 | W 3 |
| kJ | 7 | 6 | 22 | 88 | 12 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 69 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 48 | 107 | 216 | 44 | 59 | 22 | 33 | 60 | 22 | 66 | 22 | 66 | 359 | 359 | 359 | 127 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 370 |
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.
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