Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 5 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, NNE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, N swell with 640 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period with NNE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whakatane Heads this week:
The surf forecast for Whakatane Heads 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 1.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whakatane Heads in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 5th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 5th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 6th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks for the Bay.
The first few days are pretty flat and uneventful – nothing worth getting excited about. The main window of opportunity arrives in the first week, but you’ll need to be picky.
The standout session will be Wednesday, July 8th at Whakatane Heads (beach and reef). The morning and afternoon offer a clean 5ft north swell with light offshore winds from the south. The combined wave energy is solid (moderate range), and the period is 9 seconds – that’s real groundswell, good shape, and enough power for the advanced crew. Offshore wind will keep the faces glassy. Crowds are possible, so get in early.
Water temperature is about 51°, which is par for the course at this time of year.
Before that, Sunday morning July 5th has a 7ft north swell, but it’s short-period and cross-onshore – choppy and not clean. It’s big enough for experts only, but the quality is lacking.
After Wednesday, it goes dead quiet. From Thursday July 9th through to July 15th, expect tiny waves – mostly under 1ft – clean but flat. That’s a solid week of no real surf.
Then, around Thursday July 16th, a 7ft to 8ft north-northwest swell shows up, but it’s paired with strong cross-onshore winds and short period. The energy is high, but it’s messy, choppy, and blown out – a better day for kite surfing than paddling. Friday the 17th is much the same.
Best call: Wednesday July 8th – Whakatane Heads, clean north swell, offshore wind. That’s your day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 40mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat night, min 7°C on Sat morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°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 | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | NNE 5 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 8 | N 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 115 | 106 | 105 | 408 | 277 | 141 | 640 | 420 | 161 | 147 | 359 | 229 | 342 | 427 | 217 | 82 | 36 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 7 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross | on | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 9:27AM1.71m | 10:04PM1.79m | 10:06AM1.68m | 10:45PM1.78m | 10:48AM1.66m | 11:25PM1.78m | 11:35AM1.66m | 00:07AM1.78m | 12:27PM1.67m | 00:52AM1.77m | 1:22PM1.70m | 1:42AM1.78m | 2:19PM1.75m | 2:41AM1.80m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:53PM0.34m | 4:29AM0.41m | 4:33PM0.34m | 5:12AM0.39m | 5:14PM0.37m | 5:56AM0.36m | 5:59PM0.42m | 6:41AM0.35m | 6:50PM0.48m | 7:28AM0.35m | 7:47PM0.52m | 8:20AM0.38m | 8:49PM0.53m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  | | |  | | |  |  | | | | |  | | |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — |
 | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — |
mm | — | — | 11 | 3 | — | 1 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | NNE 7 | ENE 11 | — | N 8 | NE 8 | NNW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | 115 | 106 | 38 | 38 | 277 | 22 | — | 420 | 161 | 147 | 359 | 229 | 342 | 427 | 217 | 82 | 36 | 14 | 16 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | N 10 | — | — | ENE 11 | E 8 | — | ENE 11 | NNW 7 | NE 8 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | E 9 | E 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | — | — | 22 | 5 | — | 12 | 78 | 138 | 15 | 25 | 30 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | — | — | W 4 | E 10 | E 12 | E 10 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | 1 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 2 | NNE 5 | N 7 | — | NNE 7 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | S 3 | — | — | S 2 | SSW 2 | — | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 105 | 408 | — | 141 | 640 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 119 | 119 | 22 | 43 | 43 | 77 | 125 | 0 | 43 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 61 | 80 | 81 | 90 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Bay of Plenty | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Whakatane Heads Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Whakatane Heads provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whakatane Heads can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whakatane Heads 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 (Whakatane Heads) 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 Whakatane Heads 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 Bay of Plenty? If you are looking for accommodation near Whakatane Heads, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Bay of Plenty, consider staying in Whakatane which is 2 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Bay of Plenty where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Rotorua which is 70 km (43 miles) away and Tauranga, 79 km (49 miles) away.
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