Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 4s period, W swell with 22 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 9PM. 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 | 9PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, grab a coffee and sit down. It’s Rusty here, and I’m looking at the next 16 days for Whakatane Heads. And honestly, it’s a bit of a tough one. We’ve got a big, long gap of nothing much to get excited about.
For the first couple of weeks, we’re looking at a lot of flat, small, and messy conditions. From Friday the 17th right through to Thursday the 31st of July, the swell is almost non-existent. You’ll see tiny waves, mostly under 2ft, with periods all over the shop and very weak energy. The combined energy values are in the single digits or low teens for most of that time, which is basically nothing. There are a few mornings with clean conditions and a light offshore, but with no swell to work with, it’s not worth paddling out. The wind is mostly light, but the swell just isn’t there. It’s a proper drought.
The water temp sits at 59°, which is about average for this time of year.
Now, the real story starts to change on Friday the 1st of August. That’s when we finally see some life. On the morning of the 1st, a solid 7ft swell from the NNW, with a period of 7 seconds and 513 energy, pushes in. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SE. This is a good amount of power, but at 7ft, this is pushing into expert territory – it’s too big for beginners. The afternoon sees it bump up to 8ft and 645 energy, still with clean cross-off winds. The period is a short 8 seconds, so these are wind swells, not groundswells, meaning they’ll be a bit more disorganised but still punchy.
The standout window is the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of August. The best call is likely the Saturday morning session, with the 7ft swell and that clean offshore wind. It’s a beach and reef setup, and with that much energy, it’s going to be a proper challenge. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but it’s the only real swell on the horizon.
Because the wind is strong and the breaks are a beach-and-reef setup, those days with the 3ft+ swell and onshore wind might actually be more interesting for kiteboarding than a paddle session.
So, to sum it up: a long, flat spell until the end of July, then a solid, expert-only pulse of swell arrives on the 1st of August. That Saturday morning is your best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 9 | E 19 | W 3 | NE 9 | W 4 | N 9 | WNW 5 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | NE 4 | WNW 3 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 1:15AM1.75m | 1:51PM1.67m | 2:01AM1.70m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:14PM0.48m | 7:46AM0.41m | 8:09PM0.54m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — |
 | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 10 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NE 9 | NE 9 | N 9 | WNW 5 | NW 4 | N 9 | N 3 | — | N 10 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | W 3 | — | N 9 | N 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | — | — | — | N 9 | — | — | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 7 | — | N 10 | — | N 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | E 19 | N 10 | — | — | — | — | N 9 | N 9 | — | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 9 | N 10 | N 6 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 2 | WNW 4 | W 3 | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | SW 3 | — | NNE 3 | — | — | ESE 2 | SSE 2 | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | — | — | W 3 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 90 | 110 | 90 | 118 | 118 | 118 | 81 | 118 | 90 | 118 | 124 | 118 | 118 | 118 | 119 | 118 | 121 | 119 | 119 | 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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