Whakatane Heads surf break

Whakatane Heads surfForecast / Bay of Plenty / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Saturday 27 Dec 2025 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Whakatane Heads surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Whakatane Heads sea temperature is
20.1° C
(Which is 1.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whakatane Heads this week:

The surf forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Dec 28) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whakatane Heads in the next 12 days are 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Dec 30) at 1AM. 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 Monday (Dec 29) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sun 28th Dec)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Best Surf 1AM (Tue 30th Dec)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 1AM (Tue 30th Dec)11ft (3.5m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sat morning, fresh winds from the SE by Mon morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
31
Thursday
01
Friday
02
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
4
3
2
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.4
N
1.2
N
1.3
N
1
N
0.9
NNE
1.2
NNE
1.1
NE
1.5
ENE
3.5
NNE
2.5
NNE
2.5
NNE
2.5
NNE
2
NNE
1.7
NNW
1.5
NNW
1.1
NNW
0.8
NE
0.8
NE
0.7
NE
0.6
ENE
0.7
NE
Period(s) (?)7787767711101010999888888
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)195131191927510313624225231230114911066004843071518479554060
Wind
(km/h)
5
WNW
15
NNW
5
SW
5
SSE
10
NNE
15
SSE
30
SE
25
ESE
10
ESE
10
NNE
15
NE
20
N
15
N
20
N
20
NNW
10
NW
15
N
5
S
5
ESE
10
N
10
SSE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crossoncross-
off
offcross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
oncross-
on
ononononcross-
on
onglasscross-
off
onoff
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:51PM
1.81
1:02AM
1.67
1:36PM
1.81
1:58AM
1.69
2:23PM
1.82
2:55AM
1.74
3:17PM
1.82
3:55AM
1.79
4:18PM
1.84
5:00AM
1.85
5:22PM
1.86
6:10AM
1.92
6:26PM
1.91
Low Tide
/ height (m)
7:23PM
0.37
7:26AM
0.42
8:10PM
0.34
8:21AM
0.47
9:00PM
0.33
9:21AM
0.50
9:54PM
0.35
10:25AM
0.50
10:55PM
0.36
11:28AM
0.48
11:57PM
0.36
12:30PM
0.47
12:57AM
0.31
Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
31
Thursday
01
Friday
02
Sunrise5:48--5:48--5:50--5:50--5:50--5:52--5:52--
Sunset-8:36--8:36--8:36--8:37--8:37--8:37--8:37-
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
light rain
light rain
heavy rain
rain showers
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
rain showers
Rain (mm)
-13--94311716145-112-4
Temp. °C191916202017171918192119212019212018222218
Feels °C (?)161715191816121619202017191817191919222118
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Whakatane Heads:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Whakatane Heads surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


false

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 12 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest