Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, looking at the only spot on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

It’s a flat start for Whakatane Heads, with a real slow patch for the first week or so. The first few days are a write-off – tiny, weak waves with nothing to get excited about. From Saturday the 14th, we see a pulse of short-period, wind-affected swell, but it’s ordinary and cross-onshore, mostly just messy. The combined energy sits between 94 and 174 (moderate) but the quality is poor. Not worth paddling out for.

The better news starts to build from the 19th of July. Sunday morning brings a cleaner 2ft swell from the north with a 11-second period, and combined energy is up to 118 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’s rideable but still ordinary. That slow improvement continues into Monday, with a 3ft NE swell and 147 energy (moderate), glassy and clean in the morning. Still not a standout, but it’s starting to look sporty.

The real window opens mid-week, starting Tuesday the 21st. That’s where we get our first true standout. Tuesday morning sees a 4ft NE swell, 9-second period, with clean offshore S winds and combined energy hitting 271 (moderate-strong). The afternoon is even better – glassy conditions with the same swell. This is good surf, clean and punchy.

But the highlight of the whole run is Wednesday the 22nd into Thursday the 23rd. On Wednesday afternoon, we’ve got a 5ft ENE swell, 12-second period, glassy conditions, and the combined energy is a meaty 679 (strong). That’s proper groundswell with excellent shape. The water temp is 60°F, which is about average for this time of year, so a decent spring suit will do. Thursday morning is slightly bigger at 5ft, with clean cross-offshore winds and energy at 782 (strong). This is the best on offer – solid, clean, and with that longer period making for well-shaped waves. Whakatane Heads is a beach and reef setup, so that long-period groundswell will line up nicely on the reef and points, but it can get a bit straight on the beach breaks. If you’re a competent surfer, this is your window.

From Friday the 24th, the swell holds around 6-6ft but the wind turns cross-on and the conditions get a bit woolly. Saturday the 25th is still surfable but not as clean, and by Sunday the 26th it’s an 8ft NE swell with a short 7-second period and cross-on wind – that’s expert territory only, and it’s going to be a bumpy, choppy mess. Not one for the average punter.

So, bottom line: the first week is a write-off. The best surf comes on Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd. If you can wait for that window, you’ll be rewarded with clean, solid groundswell and glassy conditions. After that, it gets messy again.

Rusty.

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