Waihau Bay surfForecast / East Cape / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Saturday 30 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Waihau Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Waihau Bay sea temperature is
17.7° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)

Waihau Bay surf forecast from 30 May 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 2 Jun, 6PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, N swell with onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 2 Jun, 9PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, N swell with 8,122 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 2 Jun, 6PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period with N swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Waihau Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Waihau Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jun 02) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 5.0m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Waihau Bay in the next 16 days are 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jun 02) 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 0.1m 12s period and expected on Sunday (May 31) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Tue 2nd Jun)16ft (5.0m) 11s
Best Surf 6PM (Tue 2nd Jun)16ft (5.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 9PM (Tue 2nd Jun)18ft (5.5m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waihau Bay over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 57mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the NNE by Tue morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue night, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
Friday
5
Sat
6
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
!
3
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
NE
11
0.4
NE
10
1.2
N
5
1.6
N
7
2.3
N
7
2.5
N
8
3
N
9
4
N
10
5
N
11
5
N
12
3.5
NNE
11
3
NNE
11
2.2
NNE
10
1.7
NNE
9
1.5
NNE
9
1.3
NNE
8
0.9
NE
8
0.9
NNE
7
1.6
NW
6
1.6
NW
7
1.2
NW
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
19
28
83
236
578
825
1455
3300
5306
6424
2736
1747
942
528
368
207
84
96
182
228
139
Wind (km/h)
5
NE
15
NNE
20
NNE
20
NNE
25
NNE
25
NNE
30
NNE
40
NNE
30
N
10
NW
15
WSW
15
W
15
SW
10
WSW
10
W
10
W
15
NW
15
NW
15
N
20
N
20
NW
glassy
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
6:20AM1.54m
6:53PM1.63m
7:03AM1.55m
7:35PM1.65m
7:45AM1.55m
8:16PM1.65m
8:27AM1.54m
8:58PM1.65m
9:09AM1.52m
9:39PM1.63m
9:50AM1.49m
10:20PM1.61m
10:33AM1.46m
Low Tide
00:20AM0.40m
12:35PM0.27m
1:04AM0.39m
1:17PM0.26m
1:47AM0.37m
1:59PM0.26m
2:30AM0.37m
2:41PM0.27m
3:13AM0.38m
3:23PM0.28m
3:56AM0.39m
4:04PM0.31m
4:39AM0.39m
4:45PM0.34m
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
mod rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
mod rain
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:13
7:13
7:13
7:15
7:15
7:16
7:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:58
4:58
4:57
4:57
4:57
4:55
4:55
3
2
1
9
11
31
3
4
10
5
Temp °C
15
16
16
16
17
17
18
18
17
17
16
16
14
16
15
16
17
17
16
17
17
12
14
13
14
14
14
13
13
13
16
13
13
12
13
13
14
15
16
14
15
15
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
NE
11
0.4
NE
10
0.3
NE
11
0.3
NE
11
0.2
NNW
15
0.2
NNW
15
0.1
N
13
5
N
12
3.5
NNE
11
3
NNE
11
2.2
NNE
10
1.7
NNE
9
1.5
NNE
9
1.3
NNE
8
0.9
NE
8
0.9
NNE
7
0.7
NE
7
0.8
NNE
7
1.2
NW
7
Energy kJ
19
28
18
18
21
23
3
6424
2736
1747
942
528
368
207
84
96
47
57
139
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
NE
8
0.1
SE
12
0.1
N
16
0.1
NE
10
0.1
N
12
0.1
SE
10
0.1
N
16
0.2
N
13
0.5
N
12
0.4
NNW
12
0.3
N
12
0.3
N
11
0.2
N
11
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
9
0.9
NNE
7
Energy kJ
10
5
5
4
3
4
5
14
70
48
25
20
9
7
6
73
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SE
5
0.1
N
13
0.1
SE
10
0.1
N
17
0.1
N
12
0.1
N
13
0.1
E
13
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
10
0.2
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.2
E
9
Energy kJ
1
3
4
6
3
3
3
8
7
6
7
9
2
6
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
N
4
1.2
N
5
1.6
N
7
2.3
N
7
2.5
N
8
3
N
9
4
N
10
5
N
11
0.9
NNW
5
1
NNW
6
1.6
NW
6
1.6
NW
7
Energy kJ
19
83
236
578
825
1455
3300
5306
42
63
182
228
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
4
6
6
4
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
51
76
118
97
118
121
118
217
90
90
32
51
0
0
40
40
51
97
51
116
84
Best forecast wave conditions in East Cape
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
1
4
4
4
3
3
2
1
2
1
1
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
3
4
4
4
5
6
6
4
4
3
3
3
4
3
3
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
7
6
5
5
4
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
5
4
5
4
4
4
5
9
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Waihau Bay:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Waihau Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Waihau Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Waihau Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Waihau Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Waihau Bay 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 (Waihau Bay) 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 Waihau Bay 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.

Waihau Bay is 92 km (57 miles) from Whakatane. If you plan a holiday in East Cape, look for hotels and other accommodation in Whakatane. Whakatane has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest