Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 7s period, NNW swell with 628 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with NE 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whakatane Heads in the next 16 days are 2.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Grab your wettie, folks, Rusty here. It’s a tough stretch ahead for us at Whakatane Heads. This is an exposed, advanced-level break, and while it’s fairly consistent for picking up swell, the conditions over the next two weeks are set to be a real battle. For the first week or more, it’s mostly a write-off thanks to poor wind and messy seas, so don't be surprised by a long quiet spell on the water.
Our best bet, and the only real standout across the whole 16-day window, comes on Saturday, 12th of September. The morning looks promising with a clean 4ft swell rolling in from the north, but the real gem is that offshore wind from the south. That’s going to put a real clean face on the waves. The swell period sits at 7 seconds – nothing special in terms of power, but combined with that wind, it should offer some rideable lines. The combined energy is moderate (130), so there’s enough push to get into the waves. Being an advanced spot, the crowds are only sometimes an issue here, so it might not be too packed.
The afternoon of the 12th holds decent too, with a 3ft north swell and clean cross-off breeze, but that morning session is the pick. The only other half-decent window is Friday, 11th of September, but we’re looking at risk of thunderstorms and a cross-shore wind all day, so it’s a gamble.
After that, it drops away quickly. By Sunday the 14th and Monday the 15th, we’re down to tiny 0.7ft groundswell with a very long 12-second period – too small for anything worthwhile even with offshore wind.
For the first week, from Sunday the 30th of August right through to Friday the 5th of September, it’s grim. The water temp is sitting around 57°, which is about normal for this time of year, but who cares when the surf is this bad. We get some moderate cross-off and cross-onshore winds, short periods around 4 to 6 seconds, and a lot of chop. The morning of Sunday the 30th saw 7ft north swell with a cross-off wind (594 combined energy – solid power), but the rating was poor. It’s just one of those patches where it’s either too messy or the wind is against us.
To be blunt, this is a long, dry run with only one real window of quality. The 12th of September morning is your session. Mark it and hope the forecast holds.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | N 9 | NNE 9 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | NE 9 | W 5 | W 5 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 4 | NW 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 245 | 180 | 84 | 145 | 131 | 75 | 43 | 39 | 21 | 49 | 56 | 38 | 77 | 88 | 315 | 628 | 196 | 62 | 29 | 35 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:18PM1.79m | 8:35AM1.73m | 8:59PM1.78m | 9:17AM1.75m | 9:44PM1.76m | 10:02AM1.76m | 10:31PM1.74m | 10:51AM1.75m | 11:19PM1.74m | 11:44AM1.74m | 00:10AM1.74m | 12:43PM1.72m | 1:04AM1.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:49AM0.22m | 3:00PM0.24m | 3:31AM0.18m | 3:45PM0.25m | 4:14AM0.18m | 4:31PM0.28m | 4:58AM0.20m | 5:20PM0.32m | 5:47AM0.24m | 6:13PM0.37m | 6:39AM0.29m | 7:12PM0.42m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 14 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | ENE 10 | NW 6 |
| kJ | 245 | 180 | 47 | 31 | 27 | 47 | 43 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 196 | 62 | 10 | 35 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | — | NE 9 | ENE 9 | NNE 9 | — | NNW 7 | — | N 11 | N 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | N 11 | N 11 | — | — | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | — | ENE 10 |
| kJ | 86 | — | 13 | 8 | 17 | — | 5 | — | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 10 | 10 | — | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 11 | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 5 | W 5 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | W 4 | W 4 | NW 4 | W 4 |
| kJ | 31 | 72 | 84 | 145 | 131 | 75 | 25 | 39 | 21 | 49 | 56 | 38 | 77 | 88 | 315 | 628 | 10 | 9 | 29 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 5 | 119 | 119 | 5 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 119 | 5 | 119 | 119 | 110 | 119 | 103 | 5 | 0 | 119 | 47 |
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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