Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, lookin’ at the charts for Whakatane Heads.

We are sitting on a long stretch of pretty ordinary surf here. For the next two weeks, the first decent window isn't until midweek, and even then it's a mixed bag. The opening few days just aren't happening. Sunday, the 9th, is a complete write-off with a messy 3ft swell from the NNW, bumpy onshore winds, and weak wave energy (54). Not worth the paddle.

Monday morning the 10th shows a glimmer. We’ve got a 6ft swell from the NNW with 448 in the combined energy – that’s moderate energy, building nicely. The offshore wind from the SW is clean, really clean. This is the best morning of the early week. It’s punching at a solid head-high, but be aware it’s a beach and reef setup and the swell direction isn’t the ideal NNE for the optimum here. Still, for a Monday, it’s the best you’ll get.

Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are surfable but nothing to write home about. Waist-high waves, clean enough thanks to light offshore or glassy conditions on Wednesday morning, but the energy is low. Just a mellow session.

Things get messy again Thursday and Friday of that first week. Strong cross-onshore winds, lumpy, choppy conditions. By Friday afternoon, there's actually some decent energy in the water (569), but the wind is onshore and the rain could be a factor. It’s marginal. Kite surfers might have more fun in that wind than we will.

The following week is very quiet until Sunday, the 23rd. That’s a full week away. We’re talking tiny, often ankle-biters with barely any energy from the 17th through the 22nd. You’ll be waiting. There is a glassy window on Friday the 21st, but it’s flat. Just don’t bother.

Now, for the standout: Sunday the 23rd. This one is for the experienced crew only. We’re looking at 12ft swell from the NNE, and the combined energy is well over 3000. That is a big, powerful groundswell. The period is 11 seconds – solid, long-period energy. The morning is clean with a gentle cross-offshore breeze. This is not for beginners. It’s a big, powerful, heavy day. The afternoon stays solid at 10ft but gets windier and more marginal. For the hard chargers, the Sunday morning is the one true standout on this chart. It will be big, it will be raw. Crowds? Whakatane Heads can get busy, so pick your peak.

Monday the 24th is still chunky at 7ft, but the conditions are more crossed up and questionable.

So, in short: a couple of okay mornings early on, a whole lot of nothing in the middle, and a proper, heavy swell for the experts on the 23rd. Keep your eyes on that Sunday.

Rusty.

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