Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 1 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NNW swell with 328 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 17s. 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Whakatane Heads area over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it's a slow start. We're looking at a solid week of flat, small, and mostly unsurfable conditions. From Tuesday the 28th of July through to Sunday the 9th of August, the ocean is barely waking up. There's a tiny pulse of swell here and there, but the wave heights are sitting at a measly 0.3ft to 2ft, and the combined wave energy is well under 100 (a weak 3 to 43). It's a real bummer, and I'd be finding something else to do with my time. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is a bit colder than we'd expect for this time of year.
Now, there is a glimmer of hope, but it's a long way off. The first real sign of life pops up on Friday the 31st of July. The morning sees a bump in swell to 6ft from the NNW, with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy hits 306 (moderate), but the wind is a messy cross-shore from the WNW at 9 mph. It's a bit of a junkyard out there – marginal at best, and the afternoon gets even worse with the wind picking up. Saturday the 1st of August is a bit cleaner, but the swell drops back to 3ft from the NNW and the energy is weak at 85. It's surfable, but very ordinary.
The real standout, the one you need to circle on your calendar, is the 11th and 12th of August. On Tuesday the 11th of August, we finally get a proper push. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the NE, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 271 (moderate), and the wind is looking clean. Tuesday afternoon is particularly promising with a gentle offshore breeze from the S at 9 mph, making for clean, lined-up waves. Wednesday the 12th of August keeps that energy flowing, with the swell holding at 4ft from the ENE, and the combined energy peaking at 283 (moderate). The morning will be clean with a cross-offshore breeze. This is your window. The water temp anomaly is a bit colder than average, but you won't care when you're stroking into those well-shaped waves. It's a bit of a wait, but there's a solid finish to this forecast.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 3°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 11 | E 18 | E 17 | N 10 | N 9 | E 16 | NNW 3 | N 4 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNE 16 | NNE 16 | NNE 15 | NNE 15 | NNE 13 | NE 13 | NNE 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 171 | 285 | 251 | 159 | 69 | 50 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 28 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | off | off | on | off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:16PM1.72m | 6:16AM1.66m | 6:57PM1.74m | 7:00AM1.69m | 7:36PM1.77m | 7:41AM1.71m | 8:13PM1.79m | 8:20AM1.71m | 8:52PM1.80m | 9:00AM1.71m | 9:31PM1.79m | 9:40AM1.70m | 10:12PM1.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:03PM0.47m | 00:29AM0.56m | 12:45PM0.43m | 1:13AM0.50m | 1:26PM0.37m | 1:55AM0.44m | 2:05PM0.32m | 2:37AM0.38m | 2:45PM0.28m | 3:19AM0.32m | 3:25PM0.26m | 4:00AM0.28m | 4:07PM0.27m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 8 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | N 6 | E 17 | E 5 | E 5 | — | NNW 3 | NE 11 | E 14 | E 12 | NE 18 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNE 15 | NNE 15 | NNE 13 | NE 13 | NNE 13 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 159 | 69 | 50 | 13 | 6 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 28 | 17 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | — | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | E 5 | E 5 | NE 11 | NE 18 | E 11 | NE 18 | NE 17 | NNE 17 | NNE 16 | NNE 16 | N 6 | N 5 | E 10 | E 5 | E 9 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 18 | — | — | — | E 16 | — | E 14 | N 19 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 10 | N 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 6 | — | — | — | 5 | — | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | — | SE 3 | SSE 2 | — | — | — | N 4 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | — | SSW 3 | — | S 3 | S 3 | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | WNW 2 | W 3 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 9 | 171 | 285 | 251 | — | 1 | — | 5 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 90 | 113 | 90 | 61 | 119 | 110 | 61 | 119 | 119 | 22 | 112 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 81 | 121 | 145 | 118 | 118 | 118 |
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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