Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, NW swell with 51 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this is a lean stretch for Tawharanui. The next two weeks are mostly about patience, not paddling. We’ve got a long flat spell to start, with barely a ripple, so save your wax for later.
The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year – no major surprises there.
The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t show up until the end of the month. We’ve got a bit of a pulse on Friday the 28th of August, but it’s ugly. A solid 10ft swell from the north with a short, weak 8-second period builds through the morning, packing a strong 1,395 combined energy. But the wind is howling from the north at 22 mph, smashing it all up with a cross-onshore chop. That’s a messy, lumpy beast – only for the hardcore, and even then, it’s more of a survival session than a fun one. The afternoon drops a bit to 8ft, but the wind’s still ugly. Honestly, that setup looks more appealing for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.
The standout window, and the only one I’d really circle, is the weekend of the 29th and 30th of August. On Saturday the 29th, the swell settles to a clean 3ft from the north, period still short at 8 seconds, but the wind swings offshore from the west-southwest at 9 mph. The energy drops to 231 (moderate), but the conditions clean right up. The afternoon is even better – 4ft from the northeast with a gentle offshore wind, making for a glassy, clean surface. The waves are small, but it’ll be the best you’ll see all outlook. That’s your window.
Sunday the 30th is a step back with onshore breezes, and then it’s mostly back to small, weak, or wind-affected dribble for the rest of the run. There’s a brief moment on Monday the 31st of August where the afternoon goes glassy with a 6ft north-northeast swell, but it’s a short-period, messy windswell, so while the surface is clean, the wave quality is ordinary.
All in all, aim for the 29th. It’s not a firing day, but it’s the only one that’s clean and rideable. The rest of the time, you’re better off doing something else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri night, min 9°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed morning, light winds from the S by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 10 | ESE 7 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | NE 14 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 8 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 25 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 51 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:48AM2.47m | 00:02AM2.44m | 12:32PM2.36m | 00:47AM2.32m | 1:20PM2.25m | 1:35AM2.21m | 2:15PM2.16m | 2:28AM2.13m | 3:21PM2.13m | 3:28AM2.09m | 4:24PM2.16m | 4:29AM2.11m | 5:16PM2.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:02PM0.73m | 6:26AM0.70m | 6:53PM0.84m | 7:13AM0.81m | 7:47PM0.93m | 8:03AM0.90m | 8:42PM0.99m | 8:56AM0.96m | 9:38PM1.03m | 9:53AM0.98m | 10:35PM1.03m | 10:52AM0.96m | 11:29PM0.99m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | — | NE 10 | NE 11 | NE 11 |
| kJ | 8 | 5 | 4 | 26 | 25 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 12 | 2 | 2 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | E 12 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 16 | NE 14 | E 9 | E 13 | NE 13 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | — | — | E 12 |
| kJ | 2 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | N 10 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | — | — | E 14 | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — |
| kJ | 4 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 4 | S 3 | — | — | S 3 | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | W 4 | W 3 | WSW 3 | — | WSW 2 | W 2 | — | NW 2 |
| kJ | 102 | 9 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | 51 | 7 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 216 | 125 | 22 | 22 | 44 | 60 | 22 | 59 | 59 | 66 | 279 | 359 | 48 | 117 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 256 | 359 | 279 |
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.
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