Whakatane Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.94° S 177.00° E

Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 08 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whakatane Heads sea temperature is
13.3° C
1.6° 

Whakatane Heads surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NNW swell with 800 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period with NNW 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 Monday (Aug 10) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m 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 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Mon 10th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 8s
Best Surf 3AM (Mon 10th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 8s
Most Powerful 3AM (Mon 10th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

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.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 40mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the N by Sun night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the NE by Thu night).

Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
2
0
2
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
12
0.9
NNW
5
1.6
NNW
6
2.3
NNW
8
1.7
NNW
9
1.6
NNW
8
1.3
NNW
8
1.1
N
8
1
N
8
1
N
8
0.9
NNE
8
0.7
N
8
1.2
NNE
7
1.4
NNE
7
1.9
NNE
7
1.7
NNE
6
1.6
NNE
7
1.6
NE
7
1.3
NNE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
11
34
184
620
442
326
206
153
119
119
109
57
153
191
313
219
223
255
173
Wind (km/h)
5
SSE
10
NNW
25
NNW
15
WNW
10
SW
10
WNW
10
SSW
10
SSE
5
N
10
SSE
5
SE
5
NNE
15
ENE
20
ENE
30
NE
30
NE
20
NE
10
N
15
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
High Tide
2:20AM1.76m
3:06PM1.77m
3:26AM1.78m
4:18PM1.84m
4:32AM1.80m
5:24PM1.93m
5:35AM1.82m
6:19PM2.01m
6:33AM1.84m
7:10PM2.04m
7:29AM1.86m
7:58PM2.03m
Low Tide
8:57AM0.37m
9:36PM0.49m
10:02AM0.35m
10:41PM0.47m
11:05AM0.30m
11:43PM0.43m
12:02PM0.25m
00:43AM0.37m
12:55PM0.21m
1:38AM0.30m
1:49PM0.21m
2:30AM0.25m
cloud
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:01
7:00
6:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:34
5:35
 mm
3
8
29
3
12
4
5
1
Temp °C
11
14
14
13
13
16
11
13
14
11
12
13
12
14
14
15
15
15
12
Feels °C
10
10
10
8
11
12
8
11
11
9
10
11
9
9
9
9
13
14
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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