
Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, NNW swell with 33 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tawharanui this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – if you’re hanging out for a proper surf at Tawharanui over the next couple of weeks, you’re going to be doing a lot of waiting. This is shaping up as one of those bleak mid-winter blanks where Mother Nature just isn’t cooperating. The whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off for any decent paddle surfing.
Right now, there’s nothing doing. The first week is all tiny, gutless dribble. Sunday the 2nd has a weak 3ft east swell, but it’s crummy and cross-off with a S wind at 12 mph. The energy is pathetic (66). Monday and Tuesday the 3rd and 4th are flat as a tack with offshore winds but swell barely reaching 0.3ft – you’d be kidding yourself.
We finally see a pulse of something around Monday the 10th. The morning has a 4ft northerly swell but it’s just ordinary (81 energy). Then Monday afternoon it gets interesting: 6ft of north swell (energy jumps to 256) and glassy conditions with a light NE breeze. That’s your standout session – the only real chance at anything rideable, and the offshore direction (SW) is actually favourable for Tawharanui’s exposed NE setup. It’s clean, it’s glassy, and the waves will have a bit of push for the average surfer. Not huge, but the best on offer.
From Tuesday the 11th onwards, it goes downhill fast. Strong onshore NE winds kick in, and by Thursday the 13th we’ve got messy 7ft junky slop (438 energy) with 22 mph northerlies – that’s kite-surfing territory, not for a paddle board. Friday the 14th sees a big bump to 8ft north swell (massive 1124 energy) but it’s blown out with onshore winds. That’s expert-only, and even then, it’ll be a washing machine.
The water temp sits around 58°F, which is about average for this time of year – nothing unusual there. Crowds at Tawharanui can be a problem, but honestly, with this outlook, you’ll have the place to yourself if you do go for that Monday afternoon window.
So to wrap it up: Monday the 10th afternoon is your one true standout. Glassy, clean, 6ft north swell. A couple of other days might offer a bump, but they’re ruined by wind. It’s a lean fortnight, but that one session could be worth the wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 6°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Sun night, fresh winds from the SSW by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 6 | NNE 14 | NE 13 | NE 16 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 13 | N 13 | ESE 6 | NE 12 | E 6 | NE 18 | ESE 6 | NE 16 | N 14 | N 14 | NE 15 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
18 | 18 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 18 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:49PM2.55m | 10:09AM2.45m | 10:31PM2.54m | 10:52AM2.44m | 11:14PM2.51m | 11:36AM2.42m | 11:59PM2.47m | 12:24PM2.39m | 00:49AM2.42m | 1:18PM2.36m | 1:45AM2.38m | 2:22PM2.35m | 2:49AM2.36m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:42PM0.62m | 4:13AM0.64m | 4:21PM0.64m | 4:55AM0.63m | 5:04PM0.69m | 5:39AM0.64m | 5:53PM0.75m | 6:28AM0.65m | 6:50PM0.80m | 7:21AM0.65m | 7:52PM0.83m | 8:18AM0.65m | 8:56PM0.82m | |||||||
— | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | |
5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 6 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | NE 13 | NE 12 | ESE 6 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 |
18 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 14 | NNE 14 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 8 | E 8 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | N 14 | N 13 | E 7 | NE 14 | NE 13 |
8 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | NE 8 | NE 16 | NE 15 | NE 14 | — | N 13 | E 8 | N 12 | E 9 | NE 18 | N 10 | NE 16 | N 14 | NE 10 | NE 15 | NE 16 | E 6 | NE 10 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 7 | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | S 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSE 4 | S 4 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 |
5 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 46 | 27 | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 12 | 18 | 18 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 22 | 22 | 66 | 107 | 86 | 78 | 107 | 73 | 22 | 22 | 64 | 64 | 72 | 60 | 64 | 202 | 60 | 64 | 203 |
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.











