Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, NNW swell with 254 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s 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 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.
For the first week, it’s a pretty quiet start. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak energy with only a few clean windows, but nothing that’s really going to get the heart pumping. The real standout is further out, so you’ll need to be patient.
Heads up at Whakatane Heads – the water temp is sitting around 58°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.
The first real action worth paddling for doesn’t hit until Tuesday the 11th of August. Early morning brings a clean 13ft swell from the NNE with a long 12-second period, and we’re talking a massive 4021 combined energy reading – that’s serious grunt. The wind is offshore from the SSW, so expect clean, powerful lines. This is advanced territory; anything over 8ft is for experienced surfers only. The afternoon on the 11th is still solid at 13ft from the NE, but the wind shifts to a cross-on, so the morning is definitely the pick of the day.
Wednesday the 12th of August morning is also worth a mention – a clean 10ft swell from the NE, still with that long 12-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-off. The energy is still strong at 2711. But the afternoon gets messy with a fresh cross-shore breeze, so get in early.
The 13th of August brings a glassy window Thursday afternoon, with a 5ft NE swell and a 500 reading – moderate energy, but the glassy conditions mean it’ll be clean and inviting for a broader range of surfers.
After that, the swell tapers off quickly into the second week, with only small, weak waves and onshore winds, so it’s a case of making the most of that mid-month window.
The best of the best is undeniably the Tuesday morning the 11th – big, clean, powerful, and offshore. Set your alarm.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 4°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | NNE 16 | NNE 16 | NNE 15 | NNE 15 | NNE 13 | NE 13 | W 4 | NNE 13 | NE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 11 | NNE 11 | N 16 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 30 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 27 | 28 | 16 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 18 | 82 | 101 | 247 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | off | off | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:52PM1.80m | 9:00AM1.71m | 9:31PM1.79m | 9:40AM1.70m | 10:12PM1.78m | 10:24AM1.69m | 10:54PM1.76m | 11:11AM1.70m | 11:39PM1.74m | 12:03PM1.71m | 00:27AM1.74m | 12:58PM1.72m | 1:21AM1.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:19AM0.32m | 3:25PM0.26m | 4:00AM0.28m | 4:07PM0.27m | 4:42AM0.25m | 4:50PM0.31m | 5:25AM0.24m | 5:37PM0.36m | 6:10AM0.26m | 6:29PM0.42m | 7:00AM0.31m | 7:27PM0.46m | ||||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 12 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 6 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNE 15 | NNE 15 | NNE 13 | NE 13 | NNE 13 | WNW 5 | NE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 11 | NNE 11 | NE 11 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 30 | 8 | 6 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 27 | 17 | 3 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 18 | 82 | 101 | 247 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 17 | NNE 6 | NNE 16 | N 5 | WNW 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | W 3 | — | N 14 | N 7 | — | — | NE 18 | N 16 | NE 10 | N 14 | N 14 | N 13 |
| kJ | 29 | 3 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NNE 16 | NE 10 | NE 10 | N 7 | N 6 | — | — | NNE 13 | — | N 14 | N 13 | N 13 | N 12 | N 11 | N 6 | N 15 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 15 |
| kJ | 4 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 16 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 3 | SSE 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | WNW 4 | W 4 | SSW 3 | NW 4 | SE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | 22 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 81 | 76 | 81 | 121 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 47 | 119 | 268 | 121 | 110 | 121 | 90 | 118 | 121 | 61 | 0 | 119 | 0 |
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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