Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, E swell with 153 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period with E 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 3PM. 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 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Howdy, Rusty here, and I’ll level with you – it’s a bare cupboard for the next fortnight at Tawharanui. There’s a big ol’ gap before anything even thinks about showing up.
From Monday the 17th of August all the way through to Saturday the 30th of August, it’s dead. No surf to speak of. Swell heights are mostly under 1 foot, and the combined wave energy is way down in the weak range – single digits or low teens for days on end. Winds are mostly cross-off or cross, which is clean, but with zero size it doesn’t matter a bit. It’s a total dry spell.
Then on Sunday the 30th of August, we finally get a little spike. Morning shows a 2ft swell from the NNE, period 10 seconds, with a combined energy of 104 – that’s moderate. The wind goes gentle offshore from the WSW, so it’ll be glassy and clean. Afternoon is similar: 2ft from the NE, same period, energy at 114, with a moderate offshore from the SW. It’s surfable, but just barely – don’t expect any gems. This spot is a beach and reef setup exposed to the NE, which is close to the best direction, so it’ll hold the swell, but it’s a beginner wave even when firing. And fair warning – crowds are *often* around, so you won’t be alone.
After that, Monday the 31st of August and Tuesday the 1st of September drop back to 2ft or less, with weaker energy and cross-off winds. The window closes fast.
So the only real shout is Sunday the 30th of August, thanks to that clean offshore wind. It’s not a cracker, but it’s all we’ve got. For the rest, it’s a long, quiet stretch – pretty normal for this part of the year. Forecasts might shift, but for now, don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Mon morning, light winds from the SW by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ESE 7 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | NW 4 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 173 | 153 | 51 | 40 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 10:19AM2.64m | 10:35PM2.67m | 11:04AM2.57m | 11:18PM2.56m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:28PM0.49m | 4:58AM0.50m | 5:14PM0.61m | 5:42AM0.59m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | |
 | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SSE 4 | E 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 8 | NNW 4 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NW 5 |
| kJ | 173 | 153 | 51 | 40 | 24 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 11 | N 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 8 | ESE 7 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 16 | NE 14 | E 12 | E 13 | E 12 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | N 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 7 | — | — | NE 10 | NE 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 3 | SSW 4 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | NW 4 | W 3 | NW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 |
| kJ | 91 | 19 | 31 | 14 | 5 | 22 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 31 | 30 | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 44 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 22 | 157 | 78 | 60 | 59 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 66 | 131 | 66 | 359 | 370 | 372 | 359 | 359 | 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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