Surf Forecasts:
Tawharanui surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, N swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, NNW swell with 170 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tawharanui in the next 16 days are 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 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 happening at Tawharanui over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, it’s a pretty bleak outlook for the next 16 days. The surf is going to be tiny and mostly ordinary, with a long stretch of flat days and barely any rideable waves. The first recommendation doesn’t arrive until Friday, 11 September, so we’re looking at a gap of nearly two weeks of very poor to no surf. The water temperature is sitting at 58°F, which is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.
The only spot worth mentioning is Tawharanui, a beach and reef setup. It’s fairly consistent, but that doesn’t mean much when the swell is this weak. The combined swell energy is mostly in the low double digits to single digits, which is weak. The exception is Friday, 6 September, when the energy jumps to 173 (moderate), but that comes with a 5ft swell from the NNW with a short, messy period of 6 seconds, and fresh cross-onshore winds. That’s going to be lumpy and ugly – more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.
The best on offer is Friday, 11 September afternoon. We finally get a _surfable but very ordinary_ call. The swell is only 2ft from the E, period a weak 7 seconds, but the wind goes light from the SSE, keeping it clean. Combined energy is 55, still weak. It’s not going to be a classic, but if you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s your window. Expect crowds to be possible here, as it can get busy.
Other than that, you’ve got glassy mornings on 15 September, but with waves only 0.7ft, it’s flat calm. Nothing to get excited about. So, keep your hopes low for the next two weeks, and keep an eye on the forecasts – things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the W by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | N 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
37 | 32 | 33 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 56 | 72 | 52 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 38 | 170 | 46 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:24PM2.61m | 9:46AM2.55m | 10:07PM2.59m | 10:30AM2.54m | 10:53PM2.55m | 11:17AM2.51m | 11:41PM2.49m | 12:07PM2.47m | 00:34AM2.43m | 1:04PM2.42m | 1:32AM2.37m | 2:09PM2.39m | 2:37AM2.34m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:18PM0.56m | 3:46AM0.54m | 3:59PM0.58m | 4:29AM0.53m | 4:44PM0.63m | 5:15AM0.55m | 5:36PM0.69m | 6:05AM0.58m | 6:35PM0.76m | 7:00AM0.62m | 7:39PM0.80m | 8:01AM0.66m | 8:45PM0.81m | |||||||
— | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NE 10 | NE 9 | N 6 |
37 | 32 | 33 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 52 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 46 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 9 | — | — | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | — | — | NE 9 |
— | 8 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 10 | — | — | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | — | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | W 3 |
38 | 37 | 34 | 28 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 56 | 72 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 38 | 170 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 112 | 22 | 78 | 22 | 183 | 202 | 202 | 294 | 359 | 359 | 102 | 359 | 378 | 0 | 183 | 202 | 67 | 376 | 48 | 66 |
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.











