Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, N swell with 272 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s 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 Friday (Sep 18) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s is also forecast. 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 1.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 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 table for the next couple of weeks at Tawharanui. Gotta be straight with you – this is gonna take some patience.
We're looking at a real flat spell to kick things off. For the first week, from Sunday the 13th right through until about Wednesday the 16th, the swell is barely a whisper. We're talking 0.3ft to 0.7ft of tiny little leftover pulses from the NNE. The combined wave energy is pitiful, stuck in the single digits and low 20s (21 to 22), so honestly, the surf is a no-go. You'd be dragging your board over sandbars. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is pretty much normal for the time of year, but you'll still want the spring suit.
Things try to get going on Thursday the 17th, but it's messy. A northerly wind pushes that swell up to 2ft – 4ft, but the period is a shocking 4 to 5 seconds. Combined energy climbs to 88, but that wind is onshore and choppy, ruining any chance of a decent wave. Not for the faint-hearted.
Now, here's a glimmer. On Friday the 18th, we get a window. The swell is still modest at 3ft from the north, but the period ticks up to 7 seconds and the wind turns light and clean from the west. The energy finally hits triple digits (141), which is moderate. The wave comment calls it "surfable," and honestly, for this stretch, that's the best we get. It's not a stand-out, but it's the only morning that looks genuinely clean and rideable. The Saturday after that gets a fresh offshore wind, but the swell drops back to 2ft and the energy tanks to 94.
After that, from Sunday the 20th right through the rest of the 16-day window, it's a long, slow death. The swell fades back to 0.3ft to 0.7ft, the energy drops to single digits, and we're left with weak, short-period windswell or flat calm. There's absolutely nothing to recommend after that Friday the 18th. The spot is fairly consistent, but we're just in a real dry spell here. Forecasts can change, but for now, if you want a wave, your best bet is to pencil in the morning of Friday the 18th for a grovel on a log.
Stay patient, keep the wax warm.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun morning, light winds from the S by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the N by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | N 4 | N 5 | N 7 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 77 | 239 | 74 | 73 | 62 | 67 | 58 | 38 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:36PM2.72m | 9:06AM2.67m | 9:19PM2.66m | 9:49AM2.62m | 10:01PM2.57m | 10:31AM2.54m | 10:43PM2.46m | 11:12AM2.44m | 11:25PM2.36m | 11:54AM2.33m | 00:08AM2.26m | 12:39PM2.23m | 00:54AM2.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:36PM0.42m | 3:01AM0.43m | 3:17PM0.47m | 3:42AM0.46m | 3:59PM0.54m | 4:22AM0.52m | 4:42PM0.64m | 5:03AM0.61m | 5:27PM0.74m | 5:45AM0.71m | 6:16PM0.84m | 6:31AM0.81m | 7:09PM0.93m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | | | | |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NE 11 | NE 13 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 74 | 73 | 62 | 67 | 58 | 38 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | N 13 | N 13 | N 13 | E 9 | N 12 | NE 13 | NE 11 | NE 13 | NE 11 | N 11 | E 13 | E 12 | NE 7 | NNW 7 | NE 11 | N 7 | NNW 7 | E 12 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 62 | 41 | 5 | 24 | 18 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 14 | N 14 | N 14 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | N 12 | E 9 | N 12 | — | N 11 | N 11 | E 13 | N 11 | E 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 12 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | N 2 | N 4 | N 5 | N 7 | — | — | — | SW 3 | SW 4 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | 17 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 16 | 77 | 239 | — | — | — | 11 | 39 | 37 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 78 | 183 | 183 | 78 | 73 | 66 | 202 | 202 | 183 | 279 | 102 | 355 | 355 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 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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