Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, N swell with 71 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, your local surf reporter.
Alright, let’s be straight with you – we’re in for a pretty flat and frustrating run here at Tawharanui. The 16-day window opens with barely a ripple and, to be honest, it’s a long, grim stretch before anything remotely rideable shows up. The water temp is sitting around 58°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there, but you’ll be wanting a good wetsuit.
We kick off on Thursday, August 20, with tiny 1ft swell out of the ESE, period a short 9 seconds, and combined energy at a measly 26. Light offshore SSW wind keeps it clean, but honestly, it’s poor surf conditions. That sets the tone. Friday and Saturday see even smaller waves, barely 1ft and 0.7ft, with cross-off winds. It’s not happening.
Sunday the 23rd shows a little blip – 3ft from the NNW, but it’s a messy, short-period 4-5 second windswell with a fresh breeze. Combined energy hits 44 to 56, still weak, and the cross-off wind just makes it lumpy. Not worth paddling out.
Monday the 24th has a clean morning with 1ft from the NNW and light offshore SSW wind, but again, it’s just too small. The rest of that week stays flat, with most days seeing 0.3ft or less. By Thursday the 27th, a NNW windswell pushes up to 3ft to 4ft, but it’s cross-on with a moderate to fresh breeze, making it choppy and poor.
Finally, on Friday the 28th, we get a bit of a lift. Swell hits 5ft from the NNW, combined energy jumps to 156 (moderate), and with a fresh WSW cross-off wind in the morning and offshore in the afternoon, it cleans up nicely. Still, it’s short period (6 seconds) and the break is a beach and reef setup – not ideal for that kind of windswell, but it’s the best we’ll see in a while. This is for experts only, as it’s over 5ft, and the inconsistent nature of Tawharanui means you’ll have to work for the sets.
From Saturday the 29th, it drops back to small, messy stuff. Then, from Sunday the 30th right through to the end of the forecast on Friday, September 4, we see a persistent onshore flow from the ENE to NE, with chop and lumpy conditions. Swell builds gradually – by Wednesday September 2, we’ve got 3ft to 4ft from the NE, combined energy around 184-209 (moderate), but the wind is cross-on or onshore, making it a write-off for quality surfing. On Friday September 4, a 10ft NNE swell rolls in with combined energy over 900 (strong to very strong), but it’s short period (8 seconds) and blowing onshore from the NE at 12-18 mph. That’s more kite surfing territory than paddle surfing at a beach-and-reef spot like this.
Look, if you’re desperate, the Friday August 28 session is the only real standout, but it’s a stretch. The rest of this outlook is a blank run, which for Tawharanui is pretty normal when the swells don’t align. Forecasts can change, but for now, don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | NE 14 | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | N 6 | NNW 5 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 10 | NNW 4 | N 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
26 | 25 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 35 | 42 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 18 | |
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-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 12:32PM2.36m | 00:47AM2.32m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:53PM0.84m | 7:13AM0.81m | 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 | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | N 14 | NE 13 | NE 13 | N 6 | NNW 5 | N 5 | N 5 | — | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 |
26 | 25 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 16 | NE 14 | E 9 | E 13 | E 13 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | — | — | — | E 13 | N 12 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 14 | — | NE 10 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | — | N 10 | NE 7 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 3 | — | W 2 | W 3 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | WSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | NW 3 | NNW 4 | N 5 |
— | — | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 35 | 42 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 18 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 22 | 60 | 22 | 66 | 59 | 107 | 359 | 359 | 359 | 369 | 197 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 202 | 370 | 279 | 279 | 279 | 102 |
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.











