Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, NE swell with 392 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with NE 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 (Aug 13) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. 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 1.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) 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 1.2m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, listen up. Rusty talkin'. I'm looking at Tawharanui over the next couple of weeks, and I'll tell you right now – it's a tough stretch.
The first few days are a dud. We start with some swell, about 6 feet on Wednesday the 12th, but that nasty ENE wind is howling at 30 mph, making a mess of it. The water is a mess, lumpy and choppy. The energy's there (339), but the quality is pure garbage.
Thursday the 13th afternoon, we finally get a break – the wind drops to glassy. But the swell has crashed down to just 3 feet, with a weak short period. It's surfable, but you’re fighting for a dribble. Friday the 14th morning is the same story: glassy and tiny, around 2 feet. Not worth the effort.
Then it really dies. From Saturday the 15th through the middle of the next week, the swell is a joke – hanging at 1 to 2 feet. The winds turn offshore and clean, but with absolutely no power behind the waves. The water temp is about 58°, dead average for this time of year.
We get a massive lull. From Sunday the 16th all the way to Saturday the 22nd, you’re looking at ankle-biters. The swell energy is in the single digits most days. You could sit out there on a longboard all day and maybe catch one.
The second week sees a little pulse of life around Sunday the 23rd. A northerly swell shows up with a longer period (11 seconds), meaning a bit more push. Energy climbs back up to around 59 and 64 on Monday the 24th. But the wind is from the north-northwest, onshore and making it choppy. For Tawharanui, which is a mix of beach and reef, that longer period swell might not wrap in perfect, and the onshore wind will kill it anyway.
There isn't a single standout session. The only sliver of hope was that glassy Thursday the 13th, and even that was a one-star day. Don't bother. Save your energy. Forecasts can flip, but right now, this stretch is a blank.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Wed morning, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 336 | 392 | 289 | 127 | 71 | 45 | 41 | 33 | 58 | 33 | 26 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 66 | 29 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 6:38PM2.70m | 7:03AM2.61m | 7:29PM2.78m | 7:54AM2.67m | 8:17PM2.81m | 8:44AM2.69m | 9:04PM2.80m | 9:32AM2.69m | 9:50PM2.75m | 10:19AM2.64m | 10:35PM2.67m | 11:04AM2.57m | 11:18PM2.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:33PM0.44m | 1:07AM0.52m | 1:27PM0.36m | 1:58AM0.45m | 2:16PM0.32m | 2:46AM0.41m | 3:01PM0.33m | 3:32AM0.40m | 3:45PM0.39m | 4:15AM0.43m | 4:28PM0.49m | 4:58AM0.50m | 5:14PM0.61m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — |
 | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — |
mm | 5 | 5 | 5 | — | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 12 | N 12 | — | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | — | 127 | 71 | 45 | 41 | 33 | 58 | 33 | 26 | 11 | 21 | 33 | 66 | 29 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 14 | — | ESE 6 | NE 9 | E 15 | E 15 | E 8 | ENE 7 | E 8 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 12 | ENE 9 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 9 | E 16 |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | — | 3 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 13 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | — | NE 12 | — | N 11 | N 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | — | 5 | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 2 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SW 4 | SSE 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SW 3 | — | — | SSW 3 |
| kJ | 336 | 392 | 289 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 12 | 56 | 24 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 7 | — | — | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 102 | 102 | 67 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 22 | 33 | 22 | 1 | 44 | 33 | 66 | 60 | 60 | 72 |
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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