
Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, N swell with 360 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks at Tawharanui.
Honestly, mate, it's a pretty quiet stretch of days ahead for Tawharanui. The whole 16-day window just doesn't have any real surfing on offer. There's maybe a couple of moments that might look interesting for a paddle, but nothing that screams "drop everything and go." The first real gap is right from the start with no worthwhile surf, and that runs all the way through to the middle of next week.
Starting out, Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th, the swell is tiny, only about 0.7 ft coming from the NNE with a 12-second period. The energy in the water is barely registering at 19 and 24 (weak energy), so you're basically bobbing around on a lake. Winds are offshore from the SW, which is clean, but with that size, it's just not worth wetting the suit for. This flat spell continues through Wednesday the 16th with pretty much the same nothing swell and even lower wave energy down to 11.
We get a bit of a pulse on Thursday the 17th. The swell bumps up to 4 ft early and then 6 ft by the afternoon, coming from the NNW, but the period is a short, crumbly 5 to 7 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 66 and then 307 (moderate wave energy), but the wind is cross-onshore from the NNW to N, picking up to a strong 25 mph by afternoon. That's going to be a messy, lumpy, blown-out disaster. For a beach and reef setup like this, it's honestly looking more like a kite surfing day than a paddle surf session.
Friday the 18th sees similar sized swell around 7 ft, but again with a short 7-second period and fresh cross-shore winds. The wave energy reads 369 (strong wave energy), but the quality is poor with a lumpy cross-chop. Not the clean lines we're after.
After that, the swell just drops right back into the doldrums. From Saturday the 19th onward, it's all 0.3 ft, 0.7 ft at best, with weak wave energy numbers dropping from 8 all the way down to 1 or 4. Winds do swing offshore or glassy at times—especially on Monday the 28th where it's dead calm and glassy—but with zero swell to work with, it's a lake.
So, the honest truth? There are no standout days here. No one to get excited about. For Tawharanui this time of year, a blank run like this isn't unusual, but forecasts can change. Keep an eye out, but for now, leave the board on the rack.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Wed night, strong winds from the SSW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NNW 3 | N 5 | NNW 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NE 11 | E 12 | E 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 55 | 285 | 58 | 121 | 360 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 3 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:06AM2.67m | 9:19PM2.66m | 9:49AM2.62m | 10:01PM2.57m | 10:31AM2.54m | 10:43PM2.46m | 11:12AM2.44m | 11:25PM2.36m | 11:54AM2.33m | 00:08AM2.26m | 12:39PM2.23m | 00:54AM2.17m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:01AM0.43m | 3:17PM0.47m | 3:42AM0.46m | 3:59PM0.54m | 4:22AM0.52m | 4:42PM0.64m | 5:03AM0.61m | 5:27PM0.74m | 5:45AM0.71m | 6:16PM0.84m | 6:31AM0.81m | 7:09PM0.93m | |||||||
— | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 9 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NE 11 | NE 13 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | N 7 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NNW 7 | N 6 | NE 8 | NE 9 |
16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 58 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | N 13 | N 13 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | NE 13 | NE 11 | NE 13 | NE 11 | E 13 | E 13 | NE 12 | E 12 | E 14 | NE 8 | NE 8 | N 7 | E 12 |
1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 14 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 14 | E 9 | N 12 | — | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | E 13 | E 12 | — | — | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 12 | N 7 |
4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 3 | — | — | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 2 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | NNW 3 | N 5 | NNW 7 | W 3 | NNW 7 | N 7 | SW 5 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 |
4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 9 | 55 | 285 | 3 | 121 | 360 | 49 | 37 | 46 | 31 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 183 | 183 | 78 | 202 | 72 | 202 | 202 | 256 | 279 | 64 | 359 | 355 | 13 | 86 | 81 | 92 | 209 | 365 | 359 |
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.










