Tawharanui Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.37° S 174.84° E

Tawharanui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 16 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tawharanui sea temperature is
15.1° C
0.1° 

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


Tawharanui surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 19s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, E swell with 96 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 19s period with E 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. 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 0.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Thu 16th Jul)0.5ft (0.2m) 19s
Best Surf 9PM (Thu 16th Jul)0.5ft (0.2m) 19s
Most Powerful 6AM (Fri 17th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – we’ve got a long, quiet stretch ahead. The next week and a half is basically a write-off for any proper surfing, but there’s a glimmer of something promising right at the end of the 16-day window.

The pattern is dry for the next several days, but the ocean is flat. We’re looking at a serious gap of about 10 days where the swell is just too small to bother with. From Thursday the 16th right through to around Wednesday the 29th, it’s ankle-snappers and knee-high wobbles at best. The wind will be mostly offshore or cross-off, which keeps the water clean, but there’s simply no energy. The combined swell energy is stuck in the weak zone, barely cracking 100 (7 to 96) for the first week, then dropping to single digits for a few days. The waves are tiny, in the 0.3 ft to 1.3 ft range, and the period is short and weak. Not worth paddling out for.

You’ll be waiting until the 30th of July to see anything real. That Thursday morning, a pulse of 9.8 ft swell from the north rolls in. The combined energy jumps right up to 1209, which is strong. Now, that’s a big one – over 8.2 ft, so it’s strictly for the experienced crew. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s not a long-period groundswell, just a fat, lumpy wind swell. The problem is the wind. By Thursday afternoon, it swings onshore from the north-northeast at 12 mph, making it choppy and messy. The morning, however, sees a light onshore breeze at 6 mph, which isn’t ideal, but it might be the best of a tricky window.

The only other noteworthy day is Wednesday the 29th. The morning shows a clean 5.2 ft north swell with glassy conditions – that’s a beautiful thing. Light wind from the south-southwest, zero wind, the water will be like a mirror. The combined energy is a solid 212, so there’s moderate power. That 5.2 ft is a nice size, not too big for most, but the swell direction is north, and Tawharanui (which is a beach and reef setup) is exposed to the northeast. The north swell might wrap in a bit, but it’s not going to be perfect. The water temperature is 59.2°F, which is bang on average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Look, if you’re desperate, Wednesday the 29th morning is the standout. It’s the only day with clean conditions and a rideable wave for the average surfer. The Thursday the 30th morning is bigger, but it’s for the experts only, and the wind is a factor. The crowds at Tawharanui are often there, so expect company if you go.

Bottom line: a long, flat spell with a late-week pulse of size that’s a bit raw. Hope the forecasts hold for that Wednesday morning glass-off.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
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)
0.1
E
11
0.2
E
14
0.2
E
18
0.4
E
17
0.4
E
17
0.4
E
15
0.4
E
15
0.3
E
15
0.3
E
14
0.2
E
14
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
12
0.2
E
12
0.2
E
12
0.2
E
11
0.2
E
11
0.2
N
7
0.2
N
8
0.3
E
6
0.2
N
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4
16
26
93
89
74
72
38
36
16
14
13
12
11
11
10
10
4
4
6
4
Wind (km/h)
10
W
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
W
25
SW
15
SW
20
SW
20
WSW
25
WSW
20
WSW
20
SW
15
WSW
10
WSW
15
WSW
15
W
15
SW
15
SSW
10
SW
10
WNW
20
SSW
10
W
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
High Tide
8:39PM2.81m
9:05AM2.67m
9:30PM2.81m
9:56AM2.66m
10:19PM2.77m
10:46AM2.62m
11:07PM2.71m
11:34AM2.56m
11:53PM2.61m
12:22PM2.48m
00:40AM2.50m
1:11PM2.38m
1:27AM2.39m
Low Tide
2:36PM0.26m
3:09AM0.39m
3:24PM0.27m
3:58AM0.40m
4:11PM0.33m
4:46AM0.43m
4:58PM0.44m
5:34AM0.49m
5:46PM0.58m
6:21AM0.57m
6:38PM0.71m
7:09AM0.67m
7:32PM0.82m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:23
5:24
5:24
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:28
 mm
Temp °C
15
16
14
14
14
12
12
13
13
14
15
13
14
15
13
13
14
12
15
15
12
Feels °C
13
14
12
11
10
9
8
9
8
9
10
10
11
11
10
9
10
9
12
11
10
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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