Waihau Bay Surf Break

Waihau Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 37.62° S 177.94° E

Issued: 11 am 04 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Waihau Bay sea temperature is
16.8° C

1.2°C warmer than normal for this time of year

Waihau Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Waihau Bay surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, N swell with 783 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Waihau Bay in the next 16 days are 2.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sun 5th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 7s
Best Surf 9PM (Tue 7th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s
Most Powerful 3PM (Wed 8th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 10s

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 45mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
0
0
0
1
2
0
2
0
0
1
2
2
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
E
12
1.5
E
11
1.2
E
11
2.2
NNW
7
2.5
NNE
7
1.2
E
10
1.7
NNW
7
2.1
NNW
8
1.3
NW
8
1.5
NNW
8
1.9
NNW
8
1.8
NNW
8
1.8
NNW
9
2
N
10
1.5
N
9
1
E
10
0.9
ESE
10
1
E
10
1
E
9
0.9
ESE
9
1
ESE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
699
553
317
432
587
284
289
541
191
247
473
424
528
783
351
212
180
196
180
144
186
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
15
N
20
N
25
NNW
10
N
5
ESE
10
NW
10
NNE
20
NNW
20
NE
15
NNE
15
ESE
20
SE
5
S
5
SSE
5
SSE
5
SSE
10
S
15
SSE
15
SSW
20
S
Wind State
glassy
on
on
on
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
9:26AM1.51m
9:52PM1.65m
10:07AM1.50m
10:31PM1.64m
10:51AM1.50m
11:11PM1.64m
11:36AM1.50m
11:54PM1.63m
12:26PM1.52m
00:42AM1.63m
1:20PM1.55m
1:36AM1.63m
2:18PM1.60m
2:34AM1.64m
Low Tide
3:38PM0.28m
4:13AM0.33m
4:19PM0.30m
4:54AM0.32m
5:01PM0.32m
5:36AM0.30m
5:45PM0.34m
6:20AM0.27m
6:34PM0.35m
7:08AM0.25m
7:28PM0.36m
8:01AM0.22m
8:26PM0.35m
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
5:01
5:01
5:02
5:02
5:04
5:04
 mm
1
4
11
3
12
5
9
6
5
2
7
4
5
Temp °C
13
13
13
14
14
14
13
13
12
13
14
11
14
15
12
14
13
13
13
13
13
Feels °C
11
9
10
10
13
14
9
11
10
10
11
8
11
13
10
13
12
10
11
10
9
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
E
12
1.5
E
11
1.2
E
11
1.1
E
10
1.4
N
7
1.7
NNW
7
2.1
NNW
8
1.3
NW
8
1.5
NNW
8
1.9
NNW
8
1.8
NNW
8
1.8
NNW
9
2
N
10
1.5
N
9
1
E
10
0.9
ESE
10
1
E
10
1
E
9
0.9
ESE
9
1
ESE
10
Energy kJ
699
553
317
247
179
289
541
191
247
473
424
528
783
351
212
180
196
180
144
186
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
11
0.1
NE
10
1.2
E
10
1.6
NNE
7
0.8
E
8
1.1
NE
8
1
E
9
1.1
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.3
ESE
10
1.1
E
10
0.9
NNE
8
0.6
NE
8
0.6
NW
8
0.4
NNW
7
0.5
W
4
0.3
NW
6
Energy kJ
2
4
284
235
89
153
170
214
331
386
356
240
103
49
35
19
8
7
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
E
8
0.8
NE
8
0.9
E
9
0.5
NE
9
0.4
NE
9
0.4
NNW
8
0.4
NNW
8
0.3
NE
8
0.1
N
15
0.4
NW
7
0.1
N
14
Energy kJ
141
78
132
38
19
27
25
10
4
12
4
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
NNE
5
2.2
NNW
7
2.5
NNE
7
1.3
NNE
8
0.7
SE
4
0.7
SE
4
0.3
WNW
4
0.3
WSW
4
0.4
WSW
4
Energy kJ
82
432
587
173
14
19
4
3
7
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
2
2
3
2
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
0
117
76
108
9
0
121
121
76
47
47
39
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in East Cape
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
2
4
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
4
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
2
4
5
7
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
5
5
9
7
7
5
8
7
5
6
9
8
9
8
5
5
5
4
9
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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