Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, NW swell with 53 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 Wednesday (Sep 16) 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 1.2m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
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 menu for Tawharanui.
First up, I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a lean start. The first solid week of this forecast is a real struggle. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak waves. From Wednesday the 9th right through to Tuesday the 15th, the swell is hovering around 0.3ft to 1.0ft. Don’t even bother getting the wax out. The wind is mostly offshore from the SW, which is clean, but with that little energy, the combined swell energy is barely ticking over (17-56). It’s a flat spell, plain and simple.
Then, on Wednesday the 16th, we get a little spike. The NW swell pushes up to 5ft, with a combined energy of 120 (moderate). The wind is fresh offshore from the SW, so it’ll be clean. But the period is a short 5 seconds, making it pretty weak and sloppy. It’s not great, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. That fades quickly, and we drop back into the small stuff.
The real standout, the one that’s got me a little excited, happens on Sunday the 20th of September. The swell is from the NNW, building to 6ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon. The combined energy jumps to 301 and then 523 (strong wave energy). The wind is cross-off from the W, which will keep it clean. The period is short at 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and won’t have that long-period grunt, but it’s the biggest, most energetic window we get. This is your best bet if you’re looking for something with a bit of push. The break at Tawharanui is a beach and reef setup, exposed to the NE, and it’s fairly consistent. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but with waves over 5ft, it’s pushing into intermediate territory. Crowds are often here, so expect company.
After that, Monday the 21st drops back to small, weak 2ft to 2ft surf, and the rest of the period looks like more of the same tiny, clean, but useless conditions.
So, to sum it up: don’t hold your breath for the first week. The one day to circle is Sunday the 20th of September for the best energy and size, but it’s not a classic. The rest of the time, it’s a paddling pool.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, strong winds from the SSW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat morning, light winds from the WSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | N 6 | NE 15 | NE 8 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NNE 14 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | ENE 9 | NNE 12 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:54AM2.43m | 5:26PM2.59m | 5:53AM2.53m | 6:18PM2.68m | 6:46AM2.61m | 7:06PM2.74m | 7:35AM2.66m | 7:51PM2.75m | 8:21AM2.69m | 8:36PM2.72m | 9:06AM2.67m | 9:19PM2.66m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:56PM0.71m | 11:19AM0.59m | 11:55PM0.62m | 12:17PM0.51m | 00:47AM0.53m | 1:07PM0.44m | 1:35AM0.47m | 1:53PM0.41m | 2:19AM0.43m | 2:36PM0.42m | 3:01AM0.43m | 3:17PM0.47m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 8 | N 5 | NE 9 | NNE 13 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NNE 12 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 |
| kJ | 15 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 17 | NE 15 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NNE 14 | ENE 9 | NNE 13 | NE 12 | NE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | N 14 | N 14 | N 13 | N 13 | — |
| kJ | 12 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 20 | 7 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | NE 8 | NE 8 | N 6 | — | NE 16 | ENE 8 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 13 | NE 13 | N 16 | N 14 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | N 13 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 10 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | — | — | — | WSW 2 | NW 3 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 3 | — | — | WSW 3 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 24 | 30 | 72 | 33 | 43 | 41 | 28 | 14 | 10 | 5 | — | — | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 64 | 64 | 64 | 102 | 22 | 22 | 13 | 184 | 115 | 22 | 162 | 162 | 78 | 183 | 107 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 |
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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