
Surf Forecasts:
Waiwakaiho surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, WSW swell with 3,746 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Waiwakaiho this week:
The surf forecast for Waiwakaiho over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.9m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Waiwakaiho in the next 16 days are 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 9s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 7th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Tue 7th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waiwakaiho over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’. Waiwakaiho is the only spot on the radar, and it’s a sandbar setup that’s fairly exposed to a good WSW groundswell. The water’s sitting at 60° right now, which is about 2° warmer than usual for this time of year – a bit of a treat, that.
The first few days are a bit of a write-off, honestly. Monday the 6th is a mess with moderate rain, a strong east wind at 22 mph, and a lumpy 8ft cross-off swell. The combined energy is cranking at 2325, but the wind’s ruining it. Tuesday the 7th is where it starts to get interesting – clean morning with a solid offshore from the southeast at 12 mph, dropping to a glassy 3 mph in the arvo. The swell hangs around 7ft to 6ft from the WSW, with a long 16-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy (2442 dropping to 1562), and it’s gonna be clean and powerful. This is the standout of the first week – Tuesday is your day if you’re an experienced surfer. The swell’s above 5ft, so it’s not for beginners, but the offshore wind and long period will make for some gorgeous lines peeling down the sandbar.
Wednesday the 8th gets smaller, down to 5ft, and the wind shifts cross-off, so it’s still clean but less punchy. The energy drops to 702 – still moderate, but the quality’s good. Thursday the 9th turns nasty again with a strong SSE wind at 19 mph, making a mess of the 6ft swell. Friday and Saturday the 10th and 11th are cleaner but smaller, with the swell dropping to around 4ft. Sunday the 12th is a beauty though – glassy conditions in the afternoon with a 4ft WSW swell, 15-second period, and combined energy at 837. That’s a lovely session for a cruiser.
There’s a bit of a flat spot from Monday the 13th through to Wednesday the 15th – the swell drops below 3ft, and the wind gets messy. Thursday the 16th sees a tiny 2ft swell with a very long 18-second period and offshore wind, but it’s small. The real action returns on Friday the 17th – a 4ft to 5ft WSW swell, 16-second period, light winds, and combined energy jumping back up to 1910. That’s excellent again for experienced surfers. Then Saturday the 18th is a belter – 8ft in the morning, dropping to 8ft in the arvo, with glassy conditions and a 14-second period. The energy is massive at 2487. That’s the second standout of the whole outlook – big, clean, powerful groundswell, perfect for experts. The calm wind means it’ll be a dream out there.
After that, the swell slowly fades through the 19th and into the 20th, with wind picking up again. Monday the 20th is a write-off with rain and strong east wind. Tuesday the 21st has a 5ft swell but the wind is a messy cross-shore, so not worth it.
So, to sum it up: Tuesday the 7th is your first real window – clean, solid, and full of energy. But if you can wait, Saturday the 18th is the absolute pick of the bunch – big WSW groundswell, glassy conditions, and a sandbar that’ll handle it. Just remember, it’s one for the experienced crew only.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Mon morning, light winds from the SE by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Thu morning, light winds from the S by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 14 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2325 | 3746 | 3213 | 2266 | 1496 | 419 | 661 | 552 | 625 | 487 | 1346 | 940 | 1327 | 1023 | 881 | 522 | 522 | 904 | 1003 | 837 | 665 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 1:46PM2.64m | 2:05AM2.78m | 2:34PM2.60m | 2:54AM2.72m | 3:31PM2.57m | 3:52AM2.66m | 4:35PM2.58m | 4:59AM2.64m | 5:44PM2.65m | 6:10AM2.69m | 6:52PM2.78m | 7:18AM2.79m | 7:55PM2.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:57PM0.57m | 8:30AM0.51m | 8:48PM0.64m | 9:23AM0.54m | 9:46PM0.69m | 10:22AM0.55m | 10:51PM0.70m | 11:27AM0.53m | 00:00AM0.64m | 12:32PM0.46m | 1:08AM0.52m | 1:35PM0.34m | 2:10AM0.36m | ||||||||
7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | |
— | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | |
mm | 9 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 6 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 |
2325 | 3746 | 3213 | 2266 | 1496 | 263 | 661 | 552 | 625 | 347 | 1346 | 862 | 1327 | 1023 | 881 | 522 | 522 | 904 | 1003 | 837 | 665 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | SSW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | WSW 14 | NNW 8 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | SSW 10 | WSW 19 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | — | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — |
243 | 34 | 522 | 176 | 66 | 419 | 6 | 127 | 322 | 487 | 400 | 940 | 151 | 119 | — | 301 | 333 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 9 | — | — | NW 8 | W 21 | NW 8 | — | SSW 10 | W 21 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | — | — | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 6 | — | — | 15 | 35 | 2 | — | 152 | 233 | 77 | 76 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | N 8 | — | — | — | S 2 | — | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 4 | — | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 3 | SSW 7 | SSE 3 | SE 3 | — | — |
52 | 682 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 22 | 42 | 9 | — | 24 | 7 | 49 | 26 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 5 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 244 | 240 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 61 | 96 | 96 | 189 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Waiwakaiho Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Waiwakaiho provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Waiwakaiho can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Waiwakaiho 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 (Waiwakaiho) 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 Waiwakaiho 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Taranaki? If you are looking for accommodation near Waiwakaiho, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Taranaki, consider staying in New Plymouth which is 4 km (2 miles) away.










