Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 15s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, E swell with 173 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 15s 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, my friends, here’s the scoop on Tawharanui for the next two weeks or so.
Honestly, it’s a flat spell. From Saturday July 18 through Sunday August 2, the surf is pretty much a no-go. The first few hours on Saturday July 18 show a tiny 1ft east swell with a long 15-second period and weak energy, blown clean by a southwest wind. Water temp is 59°F, about normal for the season. After that, it’s all 0.7ft or less – clean, glassy conditions from offshore breezes, but no height to speak of.
There’s a brief bump Tuesday July 21 morning: 4ft from the east, but with a short 7-second period and a cross-onshore wind from the ESE, making it choppy and ugly. Not worth it. The rest of the window is a mix of tiny groundswells from the east or northeast, periods 10–18 seconds, but heights stay under 2ft. The best you’ll see is a 2ft, clean, offshore wave on Saturday July 25 morning – still barely rideable.
Tawharanui is a beginner-friendly beach and reef, usually fairly consistent and often crowded, but with these conditions, crowds won’t be an issue. The preferred swell direction is northeast, and we get a few of those late in the period (July 31 to August 2), but at only 1ft, it’s basically flat. The wind is offshore, so the surface is smooth, but there’s no power.
So, no standouts, no good surf in this 16-day window. This kind of quiet stretch happens sometimes around here. Keep the board in the bag and hope for better tomorrow. Rusty signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 72 | 38 | 36 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 141 | 149 | 61 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 24 | 40 | 40 | 38 | 40 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 9:56AM2.66m | 10:19PM2.77m | 10:46AM2.62m | 11:07PM2.71m | 11:34AM2.56m | 11:53PM2.61m | 12:22PM2.48m | 00:40AM2.50m | 1:11PM2.38m | 1:27AM2.39m | 2:02PM2.28m | 2:18AM2.28m | 3:01PM2.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:11PM0.33m | 4:46AM0.43m | 4:58PM0.44m | 5:34AM0.49m | 5:46PM0.58m | 6:21AM0.57m | 6:38PM0.71m | 7:09AM0.67m | 7:32PM0.82m | 7:57AM0.76m | 8:27PM0.90m | 8:46AM0.85m | 9:21PM0.96m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  | | |  | |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | NE 9 | ENE 8 | E 9 | N 6 |
| kJ | 72 | 38 | 36 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 24 | 40 | 40 | 38 | 30 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | — | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 10 | NE 8 | E 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 2 | 18 | 40 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 7 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | — | E 12 | E 11 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | E 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | — | — | — | SSW 2 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | SW 4 |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | 10 | 141 | 149 | 61 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 10 | 16 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 60 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 195 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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