
Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 17s period, E swell with 91 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with N 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 0.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 9AM. 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Tawharanui over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, it’s a pretty quiet start. We’re looking at a real flat spell from Monday the 13th right through until Thursday the 17th, with nothing but poor conditions and tiny, weak waves. The combined energy is barely registering, mostly in the teens to nineties, and winds are all over the shop – cross-onshore, cross-shore, just messy. You’re not missing a thing.
The first real glimmer of something rideable shows up on Friday the 17th. It’s still small, only about 1 ft from the east with a super long period of 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy, but it’s gonna be straight and fat at the beach. The combined energy is a modest 97, but the wind goes offshore from the WSW in the arvo, which is a huge plus. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.
Saturday the 18th is much the same story – tiny 1.0 ft east swell, long period again (15 seconds), and clean offshore winds from the SSW. The energy is weak at 43, but it’s surfable if you’re desperate. Tawharanui is a beginner-friendly beach and reef setup, and it’s fairly consistent, but with this size, it’s only for the soft-top crew or a longboard. Crowds can be a thing here, so expect a few other punters if the sun’s out.
Now, we hit a bit of a lull again Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th, but Monday arvo brings some life. The swell jumps to 6 ft from the east, period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy hits 260 – that’s moderate energy. The wind is gentle cross-shore, creating a slight chop, but it’s still classed as marginal. The size is pushing into intermediate territory, but the short period means it’ll be a bit lumpy and less powerful.
The whole of Tuesday the 21st is a write-off with fresh, strong cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions. Not worth paddling out.
Things start to look up on Thursday the 23rd. The afternoon brings a clean 3 ft east-northeast swell with a 10-second period and the combined energy at 209 – moderate energy. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the SSE, so the waves should be clean and have a bit of shape. This is the best bet in the first week. Friday the 24th is similar, with a 3 ft swell from the same direction and a light offshore wind from the SW, giving you clean, surfable waves. The energy is 210, so it’s got some juice.
The weekend of the 25th and 26th drops off again, with small, weaker waves and onshore winds returning. Then Monday the 27th throws a curveball: a big 8 ft swell from the north, but it’s short period (7 seconds) and slammed with a strong cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is a massive 590, but it’s going to be a total mess. That’s expert-only, and even then, it’s probably more interesting for the kite crew than paddle surfers. Tuesday the 28th is even worse, with gale-force winds and a messy sea.
So, the standout window is the arvo of Thursday the 23rd and all of Friday the 24th. The swell direction from the east-northeast is a good match for the spot’s optimum, the winds are clean, and the energy is decent. That’s your best chance for a proper paddle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sun 19 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | N 4 | N 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | E 11 | E 10 | NNW 4 | E 14 | E 18 | E 17 | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 16 | 20 | 42 | 78 | 62 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 27 | 91 | 80 | 72 | 40 | 40 | 37 | 15 | 14 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 5:20AM2.46m | 6:01PM2.59m | 6:21AM2.53m | 6:55PM2.70m | 7:18AM2.60m | 7:48PM2.77m | 8:12AM2.65m | 8:39PM2.81m | 9:05AM2.67m | 9:30PM2.81m | 9:56AM2.66m | 10:19PM2.77m | 10:46AM2.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:22PM0.67m | 11:44AM0.46m | 00:24AM0.58m | 12:46PM0.38m | 1:22AM0.49m | 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 | |||||||
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | |
— | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | |
mm | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | N 6 | N 5 | NNW 5 | N 4 | NE 10 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | E 17 | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 |
16 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 91 | 80 | 72 | 40 | 40 | 37 | 15 | 14 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | N 11 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 10 | NE 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 11 | E 14 | E 18 | N 5 | N 5 | NE 10 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 6 | N 8 |
2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 10 | N 11 | N 9 | NE 11 | N 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | NE 4 | NE 10 | E 13 | E 10 | E 14 | NE 10 | NE 9 | — | N 10 | N 10 | N 6 | N 8 | N 8 |
— | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | NNE 3 | N 4 | N 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | W 2 | — | — | — | NNW 4 | WSW 2 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 2 |
2 | 7 | 20 | 42 | 78 | 62 | 1 | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 64 | 64 | 336 | 72 | 102 | 22 | 60 | 60 | 183 | 60 | 66 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 67 | 67 |
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.











