
Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 6s period, NNW swell with 350 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period with E 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 2.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tawharanui over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, looking at what’s on offer for Tawharanui over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, I’ve gotta be honest with you – it’s a pretty grim stretch. We’ve got very little in the way of proper surf, and what does show up is either too small, messy, or blown out. Let's walk through it.
We’re kicking off Monday the 27th of July with a tiny 1 ft easterly swell, period around 12 seconds. That combined wave energy is weak at 54, and the wind’s a cross-off SSW breeze at 12 mph, so it’s clean, but man, it’s small. Not much to get excited about. Monday afternoon sees the wind swing offshore from the SSW at 16 mph, still only 1 ft, but the longer 13-second period gives it a bit more shape. The combined energy bumps to 59, but it’s still barely surfable. You’d be on a foamie if you’re keen.
Tuesday the 28th is more of the same – Tuesday morning has that same 1 ft easterly swell with a 13-second period, cross-off southerly at 9 mph. Clean enough, but tiny. By Tuesday afternoon the wind goes cross-shore from the SE at 6 mph, and the waves are just messy little lines. Not worth paddling out.
Wednesday the 29th through to the end of the first week is a write-off. We’ve got a slight bump to 2 ft on Wednesday morning, but the wind is onshore from the NNE at 6 mph. The combined energy is still weak at 86. The rest of the week, through Thursday and Friday, is the same story – small, onshore or cross-on winds, and poor conditions. The water temperature here is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report.
There is a bit of a pulse on Friday the 31st of July – a north swell pushing to 4 ft, but the period is a short, choppy 7 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 188. The wind is cross-off from the WNW at 9 mph, so it’s clean, but that short period means it’s going to be lumpy and weak. By Friday afternoon, the rain showers roll in and the swell drops to 3 ft. Still not much.
After that, from Saturday the 1st of August through the middle of the second week, it’s a dry spell of tiny 0.3 ft to 0.7 ft swells with near gale-force winds on Sunday the 2nd. It’s just not happening. The break is a beach and reef setup at Tawharanui, usually fairly consistent, but this run it’s flat and ugly. The swell direction is mainly from the NE, which is the optimum direction for this spot, but there’s just no size or energy behind it.
Then, heading into the second week, around Thursday the 6th of August, we see a little lift with a 3 ft north swell, but the period is a pathetic 4 seconds and the wind is onshore from the NNE. The combined energy is only 38. Friday the 7th is similar – small and onshore.
The one real standout in the whole window is coming up on Saturday the 8th of August. We’ve got a north-northeasterly swell hitting 5 ft with a 7-second period. The combined energy ramps right up to 496, which is strong wave energy. However, the wind is a cross-onshore from the ENE at 16 mph, making it choppy. This is borderline too big for beginners at over 5 ft, and with that short period and messy wind, it’s not going to be clean. Sunday the 9th is similar, 5 ft to 5 ft with onshore winds. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest.
Monday and Tuesday of the second week (10th and 11th August) have 3 ft to 4 ft swells from the ENE and E, but the winds are onshore from the NE around 12-16 mph. The combined energy is moderate to strong (178 to 311), but the conditions are poor and choppy.
So, the best on offer is probably that Saturday the 8th of August pulse, but it’s a messy, expert-only wave with the wind as it is. There’s nothing here to write home about. The crowds at Tawharanui can be an issue sometimes, but honestly, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that this fortnight – there just won’t be anyone out.
Stay patient, mates. The coast will come alive again.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Thu morning, fresh winds from the N by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | E 14 | NNW 6 | E 11 | E 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
55 | 48 | 52 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 88 | 84 | 86 | 74 | 72 | 71 | 181 | 138 | 77 | 14 | 33 | 11 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off |
High Tide | 5:06AM2.15m | 5:49PM2.26m | 5:55AM2.19m | 6:32PM2.33m | 6:40AM2.24m | 7:12PM2.40m | 7:22AM2.31m | 7:51PM2.47m | 8:04AM2.37m | 8:30PM2.52m | 8:45AM2.41m | 9:09PM2.55m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:09PM0.99m | 11:24AM0.94m | 00:00AM0.96m | 12:17PM0.88m | 00:48AM0.92m | 1:04PM0.80m | 1:32AM0.85m | 1:46PM0.72m | 2:13AM0.78m | 2:26PM0.66m | 2:53AM0.72m | 3:04PM0.62m | |||||||
— | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | — | 4 | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | ESE 11 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | E 12 |
55 | 48 | 52 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 88 | 84 | 86 | 74 | 72 | 71 | 41 | 138 | 77 | 13 | 33 | 4 | 11 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | N 6 | E 6 | — | N 11 | E 5 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | — | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | NE 15 |
7 | 3 | 6 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | 37 | 24 | 9 | 25 | 10 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 5 | N 6 | N 6 | — | N 10 | N 10 | — | — | — | — | — | N 19 | NE 18 | NE 18 | E 14 | NE 16 | NE 16 | N 10 |
— | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | N 6 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | S 6 |
12 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 7 | 32 | 181 | 42 | 48 | 47 | 127 | 94 | 172 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 27 | 59 | 27 | 27 | 359 | 370 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 86 | 22 | 61 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










