Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, NNW swell with 160 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with NNW 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 (Sep 04) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) 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 1.1m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
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 cards for the Tawharanui stretch.
To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and quiet. The water temperature is sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing wild there. We've got a long stretch of small, weak surf ahead, with a few days of absolute nothing on offer. The first real whisper of anything comes much later on.
From the 31st of August through to the 11th of September, it's a tough watch. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2 ft, and the energy is weak (values consistently below 100). There's a few mornings with clean conditions thanks to offshore winds, but the waves just aren't there to make it worth paddling out. On the 10th of September, the wind actually gets close to gale force, making it impossible to even get out.
The first flicker of life shows up on Saturday the 12th of September. A small pulse of north swell pushes the height up to 3 ft by the afternoon, and the combined energy climbs to 144 (moderate). The wind is offshore from the WSW, so it'll be clean. It's still small, but it's the first surfable wave in the whole forecast. The good news is that the offshore wind sticks around through Sunday the 13th, though the swell drops back down.
The best call of the whole outlook, and it's a long-range one so keep your expectations in check, is the Saturday afternoon session at Tawharanui. It's a beach and reef setup, and with that swell coming from the north and clean offshore wind, it'll be the pick of a very quiet period. It's not big, but it'll be the cleanest and most consistent wave in weeks.
After that, it goes quiet again. The only other mention is a glassy morning on the 15th of September, but with a swell of just 0.7 ft, you're better off going for a swim.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the NW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 9 | NNE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | N 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
39 | 37 | 44 | 33 | 31 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 44 | 83 | 48 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 70 | 131 | 53 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:03AM2.54m | 9:24PM2.61m | 9:46AM2.55m | 10:07PM2.59m | 10:30AM2.54m | 10:53PM2.55m | 11:17AM2.51m | 11:41PM2.49m | 12:07PM2.47m | 00:34AM2.43m | 1:04PM2.42m | 1:32AM2.37m | 2:09PM2.39m | 2:37AM2.34m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:18PM0.56m | 3:46AM0.54m | 3:59PM0.58m | 4:29AM0.53m | 4:44PM0.63m | 5:15AM0.55m | 5:36PM0.69m | 6:05AM0.58m | 6:35PM0.76m | 7:00AM0.62m | 7:39PM0.80m | 8:01AM0.66m | 8:45PM0.81m | ||||||||
6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NNE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 5 | ENE 10 | N 6 | NNW 6 |
39 | 37 | 44 | 33 | 31 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 48 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 85 | 53 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | — | NNE 9 | — | — | — | N 12 | N 12 | — | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 9 | ENE 10 | — | ENE 9 | NE 9 |
1 | — | 16 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 10 | — | 8 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | — | — | — | — | N 10 | NE 11 | N 10 | — | N 10 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | W 3 | W 3 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | WSW 3 | WSW 2 | — | NNW 6 | N 5 | NNW 6 | WSW 3 |
29 | 31 | 28 | 35 | 22 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 44 | 83 | 3 | 1 | — | 10 | 70 | 131 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 22 | 112 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 107 | 336 | 202 | 272 | 279 | 359 | 359 | 359 | 132 | 0 | 66 | 183 | 22 | 132 | 378 |
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.











