Surf Forecasts:
Waihau Bay surf forecast from 11 Nov 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 12 Nov, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 11 Nov, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 7s period, N swell with 636 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 12 Nov, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period with NNW 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 Thursday (Nov 12) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Waihau Bay in the next 16 days are 2.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Nov 11) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Nov 24) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 12th Nov) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 12th Nov) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Wed 11th Nov) | 8ft (2.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waihau Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 11 | Thursday 12 | Friday 13 | Saturday 14 | Sunday 15 | Monday 16 | Tuesday 17 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | NNW 8 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NE 8 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | N 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | N 7 | NE 10 | NE 10 | WNW 6 | NNW 15 | NE 9 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 257 | 480 | 475 | 177 | 147 | 164 | 131 | 100 | 92 | 72 | 72 | 43 | 62 | 53 | 43 | 64 | 96 | 105 | 73 | 97 | 77 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 8:44AM1.71m | 8:55PM1.62m | 9:25AM1.71m | 9:37PM1.59m | 10:06AM1.68m | 10:19PM1.56m | 10:48AM1.65m | 11:01PM1.51m | 11:30AM1.61m | 11:44PM1.46m | 12:14PM1.56m | 00:30AM1.41m | 12:59PM1.53m | 1:19AM1.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:56PM0.30m | 3:09AM0.21m | 3:38PM0.31m | 3:50AM0.23m | 4:21PM0.34m | 4:32AM0.27m | 5:04PM0.37m | 5:14AM0.31m | 5:48PM0.40m | 5:57AM0.35m | 6:33PM0.43m | 6:42AM0.40m | 7:20PM0.45m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | |  | | |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — |
 | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:58 | — |
mm | 7 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | E 9 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNW 7 | NNE 7 | ENE 9 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | N 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | N 7 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 9 | NE 8 |
| kJ | 257 | 39 | 475 | 177 | 147 | 88 | 118 | 63 | 92 | 43 | 58 | 43 | 62 | 53 | 43 | 63 | 96 | 78 | 34 | 97 | 77 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | NNW 16 | E 8 | NE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | N 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 9 | ENE 10 | E 9 | ENE 8 | NNE 6 | NNW 16 | NNW 16 | NE 10 | NNW 15 | NW 5 |
| kJ | 24 | 49 | 35 | 111 | 106 | 164 | 131 | 100 | 20 | 72 | 72 | 43 | 31 | 40 | 24 | 13 | 51 | 50 | 48 | 42 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 12 | — | NNW 16 | ENE 10 | NNW 14 | NNW 15 | NNW 14 | NNW 14 | NE 7 | NNW 13 | NNW 13 | NE 7 | NNW 6 | N 12 | NE 11 | ENE 9 | E 9 | N 11 | NNW 15 | N 10 | NNW 14 |
| kJ | 25 | — | 85 | 80 | 70 | 71 | 69 | 65 | 23 | 58 | 33 | 24 | 13 | 11 | 40 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 73 | 9 | 39 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | N 7 | — | — | NNW 7 | NW 6 | — | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | — |
| kJ | 111 | 480 | — | — | 99 | 92 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 64 | 37 | 105 | 44 | 31 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 117 | 116 | 81 | 51 | 51 | 0 | 40 | 51 | 0 | 32 | 230 | 0 | 87 | 76 | 76 | 51 | 66 | 40 | 40 | 32 | 48 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Cape | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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