Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, NNE swell with 140 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with NNE 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 1.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's break it down for Whakatane Heads in feet and Fahrenheit.
Straight up, we've got a big gap of nothing. From now until the 14th of July, there's basically no surf worth your time. Over a week of flat spells and tiny dribble.
The first sign of life is on Wednesday afternoon, the 8th of July. A 5ft swell from the north, but with a short 8-second period and combined energy of just 334 (weak to moderate). The wind is glassy out of the WSW at 3 mph, so it'll look clean. It's just about surfable, but nothing special.
Then it's back to the doldrums. Thursday the 9th drops to 3ft with a gusty cross-offshore wind, and from Friday the 10th through Monday the 13th, we're looking at waves under 3ft. The energy readings are in the low double digits or worse – some single-digit readings. Total junk.
We get a bump on Tuesday the 14th. A 4ft, 6-second swell from the NNW pushes the energy to 113 (moderate), and it's glassy again in the morning. Still ordinary.
Now, here's the real deal. The standout window is Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th of July. Saturday morning delivers a clean 6ft north swell with a light offshore breeze. The energy hits 337 (strong). The wind stays good all day, and by Sunday, it's a solid 6ft swell from the NNE with clean cross-offshore winds and energy readings of 419 and 423 (very strong). This is the time to be out there. It's over 5ft, so it's for the experienced crew only – not a beginner's wave. The period is around 8 to 9 seconds, so it's a local windswell setup, but with those winds, the quality at Whakatane Heads (a beach and reef spot) will be excellent.
After that, the swell fades through the 20th and 21st, leaving surfable but ordinary 4ft to 2ft waves before it goes flat again.
So, to put it plainly: this week is a total write-off. Next weekend, the 18th and 19th of July, is your only real chance. Don't miss it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon night, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 10 | E 6 | E 7 | E 9 | E 6 | E 6 | N 11 | NNE 4 | N 4 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 317 | 140 | 64 | 29 | 28 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 17 | 88 | 108 | 98 | 45 | 18 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | on | off | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:52AM1.77m | 1:22PM1.70m | 1:42AM1.78m | 2:19PM1.75m | 2:41AM1.80m | 3:22PM1.80m | 3:46AM1.83m | 4:32PM1.87m | 4:51AM1.88m | 5:40PM1.97m | 5:53AM1.93m | 6:39PM2.07m | 6:51AM1.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:50PM0.48m | 7:28AM0.35m | 7:47PM0.52m | 8:20AM0.38m | 8:49PM0.53m | 9:19AM0.40m | 9:53PM0.52m | 10:23AM0.39m | 10:57PM0.50m | 11:26AM0.34m | 00:00AM0.46m | 12:23PM0.27m | 00:59AM0.42m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | |  | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 |
 | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | 5:10 |
mm | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | N 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | 317 | 140 | 64 | 29 | 28 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 108 | 98 | 45 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 7 | NE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 8 | E 9 | N 11 | N 10 | E 6 | N 9 | — | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 |
| kJ | 17 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 4 | E 9 | — | N 14 | E 9 | E 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | N 11 | N 11 | — | — | N 11 | E 12 | E 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 13 | — | 4 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 2 | SSW 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 3 | S 3 | S 3 | SE 3 | — | — | ENE 5 | NNE 4 | N 4 | N 6 | — | — | — | SSW 2 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 10 | 17 | 88 | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 121 | 90 | 90 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 90 | 90 | 81 | 81 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 0 | 5 | 47 | 90 |
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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