Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, NNW swell with 212 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whakatane Heads in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and listen up. Rusty here.
The next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak around here. We’ve got a long, drawn-out stretch of nothing special on the cards, with the only real glimmer of hope a good week and a half away. Get ready for a lot of flat, small, and messy days.
First up, we’ve got a massive gap. From now until the morning of the 8th of September, it’s pretty much a write-off. There’s some tiny, short-period swell bumping around, but the wind is all wrong – mostly onshore or cross-shore – and the conditions are junk. You’ll see a tiny knee-high wave on Sunday the 30th of August morning with a glassy-ish feel, and again on the morning of the 1st of September, but it's so weak (energy of only 166 and 125 respectively) you'd be wishing you stayed in bed. Don’t bother.
The only real standout, and I mean the *only* one, is looking at Whakatane Heads on the morning of Tuesday the 8th of September. We’ve got a moderate NW groundswell pushing in at 5ft with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 238, so there’s some proper push behind it. The wind is forecast to be light offshore from the SW, which is the right direction for this spot, so it should be clean. This is the one day where the conditions are described as "good surf conditions." Keep in mind, this spot is for advanced surfers only, and it can get crowded at times, but for this window, it’s your best and only real bet.
After that, the swell drops off fast and we're back to tiny, weak waves and bad wind for the rest of the 16-day run.
The water temp at Whakatane Heads is sitting at 56°, which is about 3° colder than average for this time of year. So, it’s a bit nippy. You’ll want a good wetsuit.
Hang in there, the forecasts can change, but for now, mark that Tuesday the 8th on your calendar.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 4 | WNW 4 | NW 4 | N 12 | NW 3 | NE 3 | N 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | NNE 7 | NW 6 | NNE 9 | NNE 10 | WNW 5 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 13 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 56 | 185 | 123 | 134 | 86 | 121 | 73 | 122 | 65 | 63 | 94 | 100 | 74 | 41 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:42PM1.67m | 5:42AM1.64m | 6:23PM1.71m | 6:28AM1.67m | 7:01PM1.75m | 7:11AM1.70m | 7:39PM1.78m | 7:53AM1.71m | 8:18PM1.79m | 8:35AM1.73m | 8:59PM1.78m | 9:17AM1.75m | 9:44PM1.76m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:28AM0.48m | 11:54PM0.52m | 12:11PM0.41m | 00:40AM0.45m | 12:52PM0.34m | 1:25AM0.36m | 1:33PM0.29m | 2:07AM0.28m | 2:16PM0.26m | 2:49AM0.22m | 3:00PM0.24m | 3:31AM0.18m | 3:45PM0.25m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 8 | 5 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 11 |
Feels °C | 13 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NW 4 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NNW 6 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 123 | 134 | 86 | 121 | 73 | 54 | 65 | 63 | 69 | 100 | 74 | 41 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 13 | N 13 | N 12 | NE 10 | — | N 10 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | — | NE 9 | NNE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | — | NW 6 | — | — | WNW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 5 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 11 | 27 | 23 | — | 12 | — | — | 25 | 13 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 12 | — | N 10 | — | — | — | — | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | WNW 4 | NW 4 | — | NW 3 | NE 3 | N 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | — | — | W 3 | W 4 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | SSW 4 | — | W 4 |
| kJ | 13 | 19 | 10 | — | 3 | 5 | 21 | 56 | 185 | — | — | 5 | 18 | 52 | 122 | 13 | 62 | 94 | 1 | — | 21 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 143 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 131 | 5 | 119 | 119 | 0 | 5 | 53 |
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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