Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, NW swell with 573 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 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 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 | 9AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with ya – the first eight days of this outlook are a write-off for Whakatane Heads. There’s just nothing happening. From Thursday the 23rd through to Friday the 31st, we’re looking at tiny dribble, mostly under 2ft, with a few days of weak NW windswell that barely gets the energy above 50 (1). It’s flat, it’s frustrating, and you’re better off doing something else. The water temp is sitting around 57°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a good thick steamer if you even bother.
Then, things change. Saturday the 1st of August is the one. That morning, a solid 10ft NNE swell starts rolling in with a short period of 8 seconds, but the energy is already pumping at 871 (moderate to strong). The wind is light offshore from the south, so the morning session will be clean and powerful. By Saturday afternoon, that swell jumps to 15ft from the NNE with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy hits a massive 3893 (strong). That is big, raw, and for experienced surfers only. The wind stays light offshore from the SSE, keeping it clean. This is the standout of the whole outlook – a proper winter groundswell hitting the exposed beach and reef setup at Whakatane Heads. The swell direction from the NNE lines up perfectly with the optimum, so expect it to focus well.
Sunday the 2nd of August is still excellent. The morning sees 8ft from the NNE with energy at 948 (strong) and light cross-offshore winds from the SSE. By Sunday afternoon, the swell drops to a still-chunky 7ft, but the wind goes glassy from the NNW. That afternoon session will be clean, consistent, and much more manageable for strong intermediates.
After that, the quality drops again. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th get messy with onshore northerly winds and light rain, making the 4ft swell choppy and lumpy. The rest of the week into the 7th is small and ordinary, with weak NE swell under 3ft and light winds, but nothing worth paddling out for.
The bottom line: you’ve got a long wait, but the first weekend of August – Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd – is your window. Saturday is the big one, Sunday is the cleaner one. Don’t miss it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 6°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the WSW by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 3°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | NW 4 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NW 7 | NNW 6 | E 18 | NW 6 | E 18 | E 14 | E 17 | NE 9 | NE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 546 | 573 | 331 | 42 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | off | glassy | off | off | off | off | off | on | off |
High Tide | 1:51PM1.67m | 2:01AM1.70m | 2:44PM1.65m | 2:50AM1.65m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:09PM0.54m | 8:37AM0.46m | 9:05PM0.59m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — |
 | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | N 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | — |
| kJ | — | 4 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 36 | 43 | 331 | 42 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | — | NE 7 | — | — | ENE 11 | E 11 | W 3 | NW 4 | E 11 | — | — | WNW 4 | NW 4 | N 10 | N 6 | E 17 | — | NE 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 24 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 8 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | E 10 | — | E 16 | E 17 | E 18 | — | E 18 | E 14 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 5 | 6 | 6 | — | 6 | 4 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | W 5 | WSW 5 | SW 3 | — | SSE 3 | SSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 16 | 546 | 573 | 160 | 54 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 119 | 118 | 123 | 119 | 119 | 118 | 119 | 14 | 81 | 132 | 90 | 81 | 90 | 61 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 122 | 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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