Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NNW swell with 346 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with NNW 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. 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 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Whakatane Heads over the next couple of weeks.
The honest truth is, it’s a pretty grim run for the next ten days or so. We’re looking at a whole lot of small, chopped-up, wind-affected slop with nothing really worth paddling out for. The sea’s just not organising itself. Monday the 24th of August starts clean enough with a light offshore, but the swell’s only 2ft and weak, with a combined energy of just 41 – it’s barely a ripple. That pattern hangs around for days: tiny waves, messy cross-onshore winds, and the sort of energy readings that wouldn’t push a kayak. The water’s sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting a thick wetsuit for nothing.
There’s a gap of flat, poor conditions stretching all the way until the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September. That’s when we finally see a pulse of life. Thursday morning, the 3rd of September, is the standout – and it’s a proper one. The forecast shows a clean 6ft swell from the NNW, with a period of 7 seconds, and a light SSW cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is a solid 365 (moderate), and the conditions are clean. This is the real deal: a decent-sized, punchy swell with clean faces. The break is a beach and reef setup, so it’s one for the advanced crew – 6ft is pushing it for beginners, but for the experienced, it’s game on. The swell direction from the NNW aligns with the optimum for this spot, and with the light offshore, it’s going to be peeling nicely. The water temp anomaly suggests it’s still a bit colder than average, but you won’t care when you’re dropping in. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so if you can, get in early.
After that, the surf drops off again pretty quickly. Friday morning, the 4th of September, has a small, glassy 3ft wave from the NNW – surfable but ordinary, with an energy reading of 108 (moderate). It’s a clean, beginner-friendly option, but nothing to get excited about. Saturday morning the 5th offers a similar 3ft pulse with glassy conditions, but the swell’s shorter period (5 seconds) and lower energy (63) mean it’s a bit limp. The rest of the second week is a mix of onshore winds and tiny, weak swell, so Thursday morning is definitely your best bet.
So, if you’re keen, pencil in that Thursday the 3rd of September morning session. It’s the one real highlight in an otherwise quiet stretch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the NW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | W 4 | W 3 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 3 | NW 5 | NW 4 | NW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 83 | 271 | 110 | 36 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 27 | 47 | 165 | 346 | 189 | 189 | 59 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:01PM1.61m | 3:03AM1.55m | 4:00PM1.61m | 4:00AM1.56m | 4:55PM1.63m | 4:54AM1.60m | 5:42PM1.67m | 5:42AM1.64m | 6:23PM1.71m | 6:28AM1.67m | 7:01PM1.75m | 7:11AM1.70m | 7:39PM1.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:25PM0.63m | 9:44AM0.56m | 10:17PM0.62m | 10:39AM0.53m | 11:07PM0.58m | 11:28AM0.48m | 11:54PM0.52m | 12:11PM0.41m | 00:40AM0.45m | 12:52PM0.34m | 1:25AM0.36m | 1:33PM0.29m | 2:07AM0.28m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |  |  | | | | |
 | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 13 | NE 13 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NE 12 | NNW 5 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NNW 5 | WNW 4 | NE 10 | NW 5 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | — | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 110 | 36 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | — | 189 | 189 | 59 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | NE 10 | N 12 | NE 12 | NE 9 | NE 11 | NW 5 | N 14 | NE 10 | NE 10 | N 13 | NE 10 | N 12 | — | N 11 | — | — | — | NNE 12 | NE 11 | NE 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 13 | 30 | 48 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 10 | — | N 9 | NE 11 | — | — | N 13 | N 13 | — | N 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NNW 6 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | NW 6 | W 4 | W 3 | WNW 4 | W 4 | SW 3 | WNW 3 | WSW 3 | NW 4 | NW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | — | — | W 4 |
| kJ | 83 | 271 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 27 | 47 | 165 | 346 | — | — | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 119 | 119 | 0 | 47 | 119 | 118 | 118 | 119 | 119 | 118 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 50 | 119 | 122 | 118 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Bay of Plenty | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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