Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 17 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, N swell with 941 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s 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 Friday (Sep 18) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 9s period. 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 12 | NE 11 | N 5 | NNE 7 | N 9 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | WNW 5 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 3 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | NNW 6 | N 11 | W 4 | NE 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 22 | 20 | 58 | 532 | 941 | 481 | 190 | 111 | 82 | 314 | 221 | 35 | 5 | 9 | 21 | 43 | 42 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 11:00AM1.72m | 11:14PM1.69m | 11:46AM1.69m | 11:55PM1.63m | 12:34PM1.65m | 00:39AM1.58m | 1:25PM1.62m | 1:29AM1.54m | 2:20PM1.60m | 2:25AM1.53m | 3:18PM1.59m | 3:22AM1.55m | 4:13PM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:18PM0.42m | 5:39AM0.37m | 6:05PM0.50m | 6:21AM0.45m | 6:57PM0.56m | 7:07AM0.53m | 7:52PM0.61m | 7:59AM0.58m | 8:47PM0.62m | 8:59AM0.58m | 9:38PM0.60m | 9:57AM0.55m | 10:28PM0.56m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — |
 | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 7 | 13 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 7 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | NE 11 | NNE 11 | — | N 9 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NE 8 | NNW 6 | N 12 | NE 12 | NNW 6 | WNW 5 | — | NW 5 |
| kJ | 22 | 20 | 12 | — | 941 | 481 | 190 | 111 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 3 | — | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | N 11 | N 11 | — | — | — | NW 8 | NE 7 | NNE 9 | E 11 | E 11 | NW 5 | NE 10 | NE 13 | NE 8 | N 8 | E 10 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | — | NE 11 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 57 | 12 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | NW 4 | — | E 10 | — | — | NE 12 | N 11 | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 3 | N 5 | NNE 7 | — | — | — | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | NW 7 | NW 8 | WSW 4 | SSW 3 | NW 3 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | W 4 | SSE 3 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 58 | 532 | — | — | — | 36 | 82 | 314 | 221 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 21 | 43 | 42 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 119 | 119 | 76 | 119 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 119 | 362 | 118 | 14 | 119 | 119 | 47 | 53 | 14 | 47 | 121 | 121 | 121 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Bay of Plenty | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Whakatane Heads surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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