Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, N swell with 197 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with NNW 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Tawharanui over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, I gotta be real with you—this is a grim outlook. We’ve got a massive dry spell comin’ through.
There’s no surf to speak of for the rest of this week. Not a thing worth paddling out for.
The first sniff of any sort of rideable energy is actually not until the very last few days of the window. You’re lookin’ at a solid gap from now until maybe Saturday the 5th of September, with over a week of flat or near-flat conditions. So yeah, leave the boards at home.
The only time we see any size pop up is on the 5th of September, Saturday morning and afternoon. We get a bit of NNW swell at 3ft, with a period of just 6 seconds, and combined energy of 68 to 70 (moderate). However, that’s a short-period wind swell, and the description says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions”. Not a standout by any stretch.
Then on the 6th of September, Sunday morning, there’s a brief jump to 5ft from the NNW, again 6 seconds period, energy of 188 (moderate), but conditions are described as “poor” with a moderate cross-shore chop. That’s a no-go.
So, honestly, there is no true standout session here. Not one day that I’d get excited about. The best of a bad bunch would be Saturday the 5th of September, with clean conditions and small, rideable waves, but it’s still a short-period swell, direction NNW, which isn’t the optimum NE for Tawharanui’s setup. Crowds are said to be often there, but with waves this weak, you won’t be fighting for a wave. Water temp is 57°, which is about average for the time of year.
That’s it, mate. This is a long, flat spell. Forecasts can change, but for now, sharpen your spear or find something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the SW by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Fri afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 5 | N 6 | E 12 | E 12 | N 12 | N 12 | E 13 | E 12 | N 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | NNE 9 | NNW 4 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NE 9 | NE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
40 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 44 | 109 | 77 | 23 | 22 | 42 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:21PM2.13m | 3:28AM2.09m | 4:24PM2.16m | 4:29AM2.11m | 5:16PM2.23m | 5:24AM2.16m | 6:01PM2.33m | 6:12AM2.25m | 6:41PM2.42m | 6:57AM2.34m | 7:21PM2.50m | 7:39AM2.43m | 8:01PM2.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:38PM1.03m | 9:53AM0.98m | 10:35PM1.03m | 10:52AM0.96m | 11:29PM0.99m | 11:47AM0.89m | 00:18AM0.92m | 12:35PM0.80m | 1:01AM0.82m | 1:18PM0.71m | 1:43AM0.73m | 1:59PM0.63m | 2:24AM0.64m | |||||||
— | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 13 | N 6 | N 5 | — | — | NE 10 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNE 9 | NE 7 | NE 9 | NNE 9 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | NE 9 |
7 | 17 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 56 | 23 | 14 | 42 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | — | E 13 | E 12 | — | E 12 | — | — | — | NE 9 | N 11 | E 10 | NNE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | N 5 |
3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | N 12 | N 12 | — | — | N 13 | N 10 | E 12 | E 12 | E 9 | E 9 | N 11 | — | — | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 |
4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | — | WSW 2 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 2 | WSW 3 | — | — | NNW 4 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 6 | WNW 3 | — | WSW 2 |
40 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 17 | 44 | 109 | 77 | 1 | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 369 | 187 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 102 | 64 | 64 | 359 | 370 | 38 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
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.











