Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, N swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, N swell with 511 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period with N 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 (Aug 30) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whakatane Heads in the next 16 days are 1.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here, and I’m looking at the charts for the next couple of weeks. It’s a real test of patience, with some decent windows, but plenty of flat spells to sit through.
The water’s at 57°F, which is about par for the course.
Let’s start on Saturday, August 30th. Whakatane Heads (beach and reef) is the early call. The morning brings a 6ft N swell, with a period of 8 seconds, and a clean cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is moderate at 511. It’s a clean, solid wave, but it’s an advanced break, so don’t take it lightly. The afternoon drops to 5ft and 322 energy, still clean but a bit smaller. It’s the best of the early run, but it’s not a classic.
After that, it goes quiet. Sunday the 31st and Monday the 1st of September are basically flat. The wait continues through the week, with small, weak, and messy conditions. The wind just won’t let up. There’s a pulse on Tuesday, September 8th, with a 7ft NNW swell building, but the wind is cross-onshore and the conditions are marginal. By the afternoon, it jumps to 12ft NNW with a massive 3077 energy level. That’s a lot of power, but it’s onshore and messy – only for the experts, and even then, it’s a battle. The following day, Wednesday the 9th, is a complete write-off with 22 mph onshore winds and 12ft of slop.
The real standout, and the one to circle on your calendar, is Saturday, September 12th. The morning at Whakatane Heads is looking clean. The swell is 4ft from the NNW with a 7-second period, and the wind is light offshore from the S. The combined energy is a moderate 208, and the conditions are set up for some nice, clean waves. It’s not a huge swell, but with good wind and a bit of consistency, it’ll be the best session of the entire forecast. The crowd can be around sometimes, but with this being the only decent call in two weeks, expect a few locals out.
Sunday the 13th starts glassy with a 4ft WNW swell, but the wind shifts quickly and the conditions get ordinary by the afternoon.
So, the story is: wait for that Saturday the 12th. It’s the only real standout. The rest of the window is a lot of waiting, a lot of wind, and a lot of poor surf. The pattern is not totally dead, but it’s definitely grumpy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 48mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 6 | N 7 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NE 9 | NE 9 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 155 | 226 | 290 | 511 | 293 | 227 | 70 | 55 | 126 | 169 | 72 | 21 | 12 | 34 | 46 | 67 | 72 | 68 | 107 | 299 | 158 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:39PM1.78m | 7:53AM1.71m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:33PM0.29m | 2:07AM0.28m | 2:16PM0.26m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | 4 | 11 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 9 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NW 6 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 290 | 511 | 293 | 227 | 70 | 55 | 48 | 45 | 42 | 21 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 10 | — | NNE 10 | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | NW 7 | N 11 | NE 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | — | 10 | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | — | — | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | N 7 | SE 2 | — | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | W 3 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 7 |
| kJ | 155 | 226 | 1 | — | 19 | 74 | 66 | 38 | 126 | 169 | 72 | — | 4 | 34 | 46 | 67 | 72 | 68 | 107 | 299 | 158 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 103 | 69 | 0 | 22 | 5 | 118 | 118 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 0 | 47 | 119 | 119 | 0 | 119 | 119 | 110 | 119 | 103 | 0 |
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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