Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, NNW swell with 68 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6PM. 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 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Not gonna lie, this is a tough stretch ahead for Tawharanui. We are looking at a long, flat, and poor run of surf for the next week and a half, with the only flicker of life showing up right at the end of the 16-day window.
Straight off the bat, there is very little to get excited about. We kick off Friday the 21st with a tiny 1-foot east swell, period a weak 10 seconds, and combined energy sitting at a paltry 17 – that is barely a ripple. The water temp is 57°, which is just about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there to report. The wind is light offshore out of the WSW on Friday morning, but with no swell to work with, it is still a flat, clean morning with no real surf. Friday afternoon is more of the same, a cross-off breeze, same tiny 1-foot swell.
Saturday the 22nd is even smaller – dropping to 0.7 feet in the morning and then 0.3 feet in the afternoon, despite a longer 14-second period on that afternoon pulse. The energy levels are almost non-existent, around 9-11. It is flat.
Sunday the 23rd sees a bump up to 3 feet from the NNW (305°), but the period is a shocking 5 seconds – short period, weak, onshore energy. The combined energy climbs to 44-61, which is still weak. A 15-18 mph cross-shore wind is blowing, creating a moderate cross-chop. The water temp anomaly stays normal, but the surf quality is poor.
From Monday the 24th right through to Sunday the 30th of August, the story is the same: tiny 0.3-foot to 4-foot swells with periods ranging from weak 4 seconds up to a little more organised 11 seconds, but the wave comment is "poor surf conditions" across the board. Combined energy sits weakly between 5 and 119. Winds are all over the place – offshore, cross-off, cross-on – but none of it matters because there is just no decent swell to work with. It is a long, flat gap.
We finally see a tiny glimmer on Monday the 31st of August. The morning has 2 feet from the NE at 10 seconds, combined energy jumps to 98, and – get this – the wind goes glassy, NW at 3 mph. The wave comment finally changes to "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." At long last, we have some clean, glassy conditions with a small but rideable swell. This is the standout of the whole forecast, but it is only a 2-foot wave, so it is a mellow beginner-friendly day. The crowds at Tawharanui are "often" busy, so expect company.
That afternoon the swell bumps to 3 feet, but the wind swings onshore from the NE, and the energy jumps to 325 (moderate energy), but the quality gets wrecked by the onshore wind.
Tuesday the 1st of September through Wednesday the 2nd of September looks poor again – onshore winds, messy chop, lumps. The combined energy spikes to 211 on Tuesday morning from a 3-foot ENE swell at 10 seconds, but the cross-onshore from the NNE at 15 mph ruins it.
Thursday the 3rd of September offers some hope: a fresh offshore breeze from the SW at 21-22 mph, but the swell is only 2 feet from the ENE at 10 seconds. Clean, but small. Combined energy is weak at 70-72.
The last few days, Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September, show "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" with 2-foot to 3-foot swell. Saturday morning looks best with a 3-foot NNE swell, period 6 seconds, offshore wind from the WSW at 3 mph – glassy and clean, combined energy at 89 (weak). It’s surfable, but nothing special.
Bottom line: There is only a small, clean window on Monday the 31st of August morning for the absolute best of a bad run. That early glassy setup with a 2-foot NE swell is your only real chance for a clean paddle. Everything else is flat, small, or wind-affected. If you are desperate, wait for that Monday morning, but keep expectations low.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | N 13 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 9 | E 12 | NNW 3 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 35 | 51 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 5:24AM2.16m | 6:01PM2.33m | 6:12AM2.25m | 6:41PM2.42m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:47AM0.89m | 00:18AM0.92m | 12:35PM0.80m | 1:01AM0.82m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 13 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | — | NE 10 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 |
17 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 2 | 2 | — | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 16 | NE 14 | E 7 | E 13 | E 13 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | N 12 | — | E 12 | N 13 | — | N 7 | NE 7 | — | N 12 |
— | — | — | 5 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 14 | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | E 12 | E 12 | — | E 12 | E 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 2 | — | W 2 | WNW 3 | WNW 2 | NW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 |
1 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 51 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 59 | 66 | 66 | 279 | 359 | 372 | 369 | 117 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 102 | 208 | 256 | 67 | 64 | 64 | 115 |
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.











