Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 18s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, E swell with 96 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 18s 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 0.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day window for Tawharanui is a tough one. There’s nothing on offer that I’d call a proper surf. The run starts with a blank, and frankly, it stays that way right through to the end of July. The longest gap is the whole forecast period, day after day after day of poor surf conditions. The only days that even register a whisper of something surfable are Friday the 17th afternoon, Saturday the 18th morning, and Tuesday the 21st morning, but even those are described as “very ordinary.” It’s the kind of run that’s more normal for this area when the swell windows just don’t line up, and the wind is often cross or cross-off, which isn’t helping.
The first hint of anything comes on Wednesday morning the 15th – a tiny 1.0ft swell from the north with a short 5-second period, weak energy (10), and cross-off wind. The water temp is 59°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. But honestly, you’d be better off staying home.
Friday the 17th afternoon is the best of a very bad bunch: a 1ft east swell with a 17-second period, giving a touch of long-period groundswell energy (moderate energy at 97). The wind is offshore from the southwest at 12 mph, so clean. Still, it’s tiny. If you’re a beginner, that 1ft is manageable, but you’ll be struggling for any kind of ride.
Saturday the 18th morning is similar – 1ft east swell, 15-second period, moderate energy (72) – but the wind is cross-off from the WSW at 9 mph, so it’s clean but weak. Tuesday the 21st morning has a 2ft north-east swell, but a short 5-second period, weak energy (42), and cross-off wind from the south at 6 mph. Clean, but again, not much to work with.
After that, it’s all downhill. The rest of the days are a mix of tiny swells, poor conditions, and strong winds. For a beach and reef setup like Tawharanui, with those short-period, weak swells, the setup is honestly more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, if you’ve got the gear. There’s no standout session here. The forecast is reliable because it’s all near-term – but that reliability just confirms the bad news.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 5 | E 11 | E 10 | E 11 | E 14 | E 18 | E 17 | E 17 | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 26 | 94 | 89 | 74 | 71 | 38 | 36 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 56 | 62 | 46 | 28 | 13 | 12 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 7:48PM2.77m | 8:12AM2.65m | 8:39PM2.81m | 9:05AM2.67m | 9:30PM2.81m | 9:56AM2.66m | 10:19PM2.77m | 10:46AM2.62m | 11:07PM2.71m | 11:34AM2.56m | 11:53PM2.61m | 12:22PM2.48m | 00:40AM2.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:43PM0.31m | 2:17AM0.42m | 2:36PM0.26m | 3:09AM0.39m | 3:24PM0.27m | 3:58AM0.40m | 4:11PM0.33m | 4:46AM0.43m | 4:58PM0.44m | 5:34AM0.49m | 5:46PM0.58m | 6:21AM0.57m | 6:38PM0.71m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — |
 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | N 5 | E 10 | E 11 | E 14 | E 18 | E 17 | E 17 | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | NE 5 | N 7 |
| kJ | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 26 | 94 | 89 | 74 | 71 | 38 | 36 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 10 | E 10 | E 14 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | N 8 | N 7 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | N 7 | E 11 |
| kJ | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 11 | NE 10 | — | NE 10 | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 | N 9 | E 11 | N 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 9 | 4 | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 3 | S 3 | E 3 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | — | NE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 56 | 62 | 46 | 28 | — | 12 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 168 | 280 | 208 | 60 | 59 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 67 | 64 | 64 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 22 |
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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