Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 4s period, WNW swell with 25 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 0.8m 4s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening around Whakatane Heads.
To be straight with you, this outlook is a tough one. For the next 16 days, the surf stays tiny and pretty much unsurfable. We’re looking at a long stretch with no proper waves worth paddling out for. The combined swell energy barely gets into double digits most days, sitting down around 2 to 17 (weak), only pushing to 30 or 40 right at the end. That’s not enough push to get you excited. Most of the time the swell height sits at 0.3 ft to 1 ft, with short periods that don’t have any grunt. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
Now, from Thursday the 16th of July right through to the end of the month, it’s a flat spell. Winds are often light, glassy, or offshore, which would normally be a dream – but with no swell to work with, it’s just a calm ocean with nothing to ride. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions” on every single record. That says it all.
There is one period that *might* give you a glimmer of hope. On Thursday the 30th of July, we see a tiny bump: 1.0 ft to 1 ft of swell from the ENE, with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy hits 30 to 40 (weak to moderate). The wind is offshore or cross-offshore from the S and SE, so it’s clean. But honestly, that’s barely a ripple – only for a longboard if you’re desperate, and even then it’s a gamble.
The very last entry, Friday the 31st of July morning, shows 0.3 ft from the NE with a 17-second period (very long period groundswell) and clean offshore winds from the S. The combined energy is 29 (weak). That period is long, so the shape might be okay at a point or reef, but the size is still virtually nothing.
There are no standouts here. No days where the swell, wind, and break quality come together. For a spot like Whakatane Heads that is exposed to swell, this is just a blank run. The breaks around here can be fairly consistent, so this flat spell is a bit of a drag, but it happens. Forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wed 22 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NE 10 | NW 3 | E 20 | E 19 | E 19 | NE 9 | NE 9 | WNW 4 | N 9 | WNW 5 | N 9 | N 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 8 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | W 3 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 7:46AM1.96m | 8:21PM2.14m | 8:39AM1.95m | 9:11PM2.10m | 9:30AM1.92m | 10:02PM2.02m | 10:22AM1.87m | 10:52PM1.94m | 11:14AM1.82m | 11:41PM1.87m | 12:07PM1.76m | 00:29AM1.80m | 12:59PM1.70m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:57AM0.38m | 2:09PM0.19m | 2:51AM0.34m | 3:01PM0.21m | 3:42AM0.30m | 3:53PM0.24m | 4:33AM0.28m | 4:44PM0.30m | 5:22AM0.28m | 5:34PM0.36m | 6:10AM0.31m | 6:23PM0.42m | 6:58AM0.36m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — |
 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | N 4 | NE 10 | NNW 4 | WNW 4 | NE 9 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | NE 9 | N 9 | W 3 | — | N 9 | N 3 | — | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 9 |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | W 3 | — | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 19 | NW 5 | NE 9 | — | — | WNW 5 | NW 4 | — | N 10 | N 8 | N 10 | — | — | — | N 10 | N 6 |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 12 | E 20 | E 19 | — | NE 9 | — | — | — | N 9 | N 9 | — | N 8 | N 10 | — | N 8 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | — |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 7 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | — | NW 3 | W 3 | SSW 3 | WNW 4 | SSW 2 | WSW 2 | WNW 4 | W 4 | SSW 3 | — | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 |
| kJ | 3 | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 118 | 119 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 119 | 118 | 90 | 90 | 118 | 118 | 119 | 118 | 118 | 118 | 118 | 119 | 119 |
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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