Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at the local forecast.

First up, Whakatane Heads. It’s a bit of a slow start, but we’ve got some clean, rideable waves coming through the first few days. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. The consistent offshore winds in the mornings are the real story here, making the most of what’s on offer.

Tuesday morning, the 11th of August, is where you’ll want to be. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the north with a 8-second period, and a light southerly offshore breeze. Combined energy is sitting at 184, which is moderate. It’s clean, and the conditions are surfable. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got. The afternoon turns a bit messy with a cross-onshore wind.

Wednesday morning, the 12th, is another good shout. The swell drops slightly to 4ft, still from the north, with a light cross-offshore wind from the southeast. The wind keeps it clean. Combined energy is 180. The afternoon winds shift and make it less appealing.

Thursday the 13th gets a little more size, with 5ft from the north-northeast, but the period drops to 7 seconds and the winds are cross-shore. It’s marginal, and the combined energy is 231. It’s a bit of a messy one.

From Friday the 14th onward, things go downhill quickly. The swell gets bigger but the wind turns onshore or gets too strong, and the energy readings are up there but the quality is poor. By Saturday the 15th, we’re back to small, clean waves but the energy is dropping. The 16th and 17th see the swell fade to under 3ft, and by the 18th of August, it’s basically flat for a solid week.

There’s a long gap from about the 18th through to the 24th with nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, and the winds are all over the place. A few glassy conditions on the morning of the 22nd, but the swell is just 0.3ft – not enough to even think about.

The best of the run is hands down Tuesday morning, the 11th of August. It’s not a standout by any stretch, but with that clean offshore wind and a consistent 4ft swell, it’s the only time the stars align even a little bit. Whakatane Heads is a pretty consistent spot, and the northeast swell direction is a good match for the break. You’ll have to share the water, but it’s worth it for the cleanest waves of the forecast.

Rusty.

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