
Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NNW swell with 335 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with N 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 (Jul 31) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. 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 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
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 on the table for Tawharanui over this next stretch.
To be straight with you, it’s a grim outlook. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple for the first week, and when the swell finally does show, the wind is going to ruin it. There’s a big gap from now until the 6th of August where there’s basically nothing to ride. You’re better off leaving the boards in the shed.
Things try to kick off on Thursday the 6th of August. The morning ain't much – just a weak 4ft swell from the NNW with a short, choppy period of 5 seconds. The combined energy is only 83, so it's weak and it’s going to feel gutless. Winds are light though, so it’ll be clean, but you’d be hard-pressed to call it a session. The afternoon pushes up a little to 6ft from the north (swell energy 238), but that’s into a light cross-onshore breeze, making it messy.
Friday the 7th is a write-off with a strong N wind onshore. Saturday the 8th morning goes glassy, but with only a 2ft, 6-second wave, it’s a lake.
The real kicker comes Monday the 10th of August. We get a massive dump of energy – an 12ft swell with an 11-second period from the ESE, pumping out a combined energy of 2790. That’s serious power. Problem is, it's being hammered by a near-gale force wind from the ESE at 31 mph. It’s going to be a complete washing machine. For paddle surfing, it’s absolutely blown out. Honestly, with that much wind and swell at a beach-and-reef setup like Tawharanui, the kite crew would be the only ones having fun. The wind and chop stay heavy through Tuesday and Wednesday, with the swell dropping but staying messy and cross-onshore.
After all that chaos, the very last entry on Saturday the 15th of August shows a little calm. There’s a 3ft, 10-second period swell from the east (energy 145) with light, clean cross-offshore breezes. It’s surfable but ordinary. A long way out, but it’s the only thing resembling a clean wave in the whole second week, and it’s small.
So, bottom line: There’s no standout session here. The best bet for a clean wave, if you’re desperate, is the tiny, clean morning of the 6th of August, but it’s weak. For the rest of it, you’re either waiting on nothing or getting smashed by wind. Keep an eye on the weekend of the 15th – that’s the only glimmer of hope for something clean, albeit small.
Stay patient.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu night, min 8°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Thu night, light winds from the WSW by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | E 10 | ESE 6 | NE 14 | NNE 14 | N 16 | N 16 | NE 15 | NE 14 | E 18 | N 13 | NE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
169 | 107 | 59 | 31 | 19 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 8:04AM2.37m | 8:30PM2.52m | 8:45AM2.41m | 9:09PM2.55m | 9:27AM2.44m | 9:49PM2.55m | 10:09AM2.45m | 10:31PM2.54m | 10:52AM2.44m | 11:14PM2.51m | 11:36AM2.42m | 11:59PM2.47m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:13AM0.78m | 2:26PM0.66m | 2:53AM0.72m | 3:04PM0.62m | 3:33AM0.67m | 3:42PM0.62m | 4:13AM0.64m | 4:21PM0.64m | 4:55AM0.63m | 5:04PM0.69m | 5:39AM0.64m | 5:53PM0.75m | |||||||
— | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | NNE 14 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 11 |
42 | 107 | 59 | 31 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 11 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | N 6 | ENE 5 | E 5 | NE 5 | NE 7 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | — | — |
5 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 19 | NE 18 | NE 18 | NE 17 | NE 16 | NE 16 | NE 15 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 5 | N 16 | N 16 | NE 6 | NE 7 | E 18 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | N 11 |
7 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | — | ESE 3 | — | S 3 | SSW 2 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 3 | WSW 2 | — | — | — | N 3 |
169 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 370 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 67 | 67 | 22 | 22 | 66 | 183 | 336 | 288 | 296 | 183 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 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.











