Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, WNW swell with 403 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whakatane Heads this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Whakatane Heads in the next 16 days are 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty.
Look, I'm gonna level with you – the next week or so at Whakatane Heads is a write-off. We're staring down the barrel of a long, dry spell, with a solid eight days of pretty much nothing rideable. The swell's tiny, the periods are a mess, and the conditions are flat or poor. Hang in there, because the second week starts to show some promise, but you've got to be patient.
The water is currently sitting at 55°F, which is a solid 4°F colder than what's normal for this time of year. That's a notable chill, so a good 5/4 is your friend if you're thinking of paddling out.
The first real chance of a wave comes on Monday the 3rd of August. The morning has a clean 1ft swell rolling in from the ENE, with a light offshore breeze from the SSW. The energy is moderate (282), and the period is around 9 seconds, so it's a solid, workable groundswell that should offer some shape. The afternoon turns it up a notch with a glassy surface and a 1ft ENE swell – that's about as clean as it gets. The energy is still moderate (249). This is the standout session of the whole outlook. Get on it.
Tuesday the 4th of August is also a good option. The morning brings a clean 1ft swell from the NE, with a period of 10 seconds and a light offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (288). The afternoon stays clean with a 1ft ENE swell, though the wind swings cross-off. It's still very surfable, just not quite as perfect as the day before.
After that, the swell drops off again from the 5th through the 9th, with only small, weak waves and ordinary conditions. Not worth paddling out for unless you're desperate for a glide.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a total bust. The only real standouts are Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th of August, with the glassy Monday afternoon being the pick of the bunch. Surf's going to be small for the rest of the run, so make the most of those two days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon afternoon, min 3°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu night, min 6°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | N 11 | E 17 | N 10 | E 6 | E 16 | E 10 | E 12 | NE 11 | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 429 | 319 | 237 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 73 | 56 | 112 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | on | off | off | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 3:41PM1.64m | 3:43AM1.61m | 4:39PM1.66m | 4:37AM1.61m | 5:31PM1.69m | 5:28AM1.63m | 6:16PM1.72m | 6:16AM1.66m | 6:57PM1.74m | 7:00AM1.69m | 7:36PM1.77m | 7:41AM1.71m | 8:13PM1.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:31AM0.50m | 10:01PM0.62m | 10:26AM0.51m | 10:53PM0.62m | 11:17AM0.50m | 11:43PM0.60m | 12:03PM0.47m | 00:29AM0.56m | 12:45PM0.43m | 1:13AM0.50m | 1:26PM0.37m | 1:55AM0.44m | 2:05PM0.32m | 2:37AM0.38m | |||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 11 | NNW 8 | E 11 | W 4 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | N 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 14 | NE 18 | N 6 |
| kJ | 42 | 319 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 112 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 11 | E 11 | NNW 8 | NW 4 | E 11 | — | — | — | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | — | E 16 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 18 | E 13 | NE 18 |
| kJ | — | 23 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 6 | E 10 | — | E 17 | — | — | — | E 17 | N 6 | — | — | — | E 12 | E 10 | E 14 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 6 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | W 4 | WNW 8 | — | — | SSE 3 | S 3 | — | SE 3 | S 3 | — | SSE 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | — |
| kJ | 429 | 27 | 237 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 73 | 56 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 119 | 47 | 47 | 90 | 90 | 81 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 61 | 90 | 121 | 61 | 61 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 |
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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