Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, N swell with 396 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s 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 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. 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 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next couple of weeks around the Bay of Plenty are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. We’ve got a real patchy run ahead, with only one window that’s worth getting excited about, and it’s a fair way off. The water’s sitting at a chilly 56°, a degree below normal, so you’ll be needing the thick rubber.
We start with nothing. Friday the 28th of August is a total write-off – wind on it, tiny, messy. Saturday the 29th gets a brief glimmer in the afternoon when the wind drops to glassy, but it’s only 4ft from the north with a short, weak 6-second period, and honestly, it’s just ordinary. Sunday the 30th morning sees a bit more size, 6ft from the north with clean cross-offshore winds, but the energy is still only moderate (413) and the wave comment says it’s marginal. Monday the 31st is small again. From there it’s basically a graveyard of tiny, cross-shore slop all the way through the first week of September. Nothing doing.
Then, out of nowhere, we get a pulse. Sunday the 6th of September morning is the one to circle. Early doors, we’ve got a 5ft swell from the NNW with a 7-second period and clean offshore southerly wind. The combined energy is moderate at 250 and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the standout for the whole run. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and the wind is proper. The break itself, Whakatane Heads, is an exposed beach and reef setup that handles a northerly swell, and on a day like that it could offer some tidy lines. It’s an advanced wave, and it can get busy, so expect a few heads in the water.
Monday the 7th of September picks up a little more size by the afternoon, 6ft from the NNW, but the wind swings onshore and ruins it. Tuesday the 8th of September is the big event – the swell jumps to 10ft from the NNW with very strong energy (1354) – but honestly, with a strong cross-onshore breeze at 25 mph, that’s more of a kite-surfing situation than a paddle. Too messy and lumpy. The following days drop back into the gutter.
So look, if you’re keen, the morning of Sunday the 6th is your best bet. After that, it’s a long stretch of small, wind-affected junk. Don’t hold your breath on the long-range stuff – it’s a long way out and these calls are shaky.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | NNW 5 | N 5 | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 7 | N 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | N 9 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | WNW 5 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NNW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 51 | 19 | 55 | 135 | 143 | 210 | 381 | 180 | 126 | 92 | 38 | 90 | 137 | 59 | 30 | 20 | 11 | 44 | 18 | 18 | 24 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 10:02AM1.76m | 10:31PM1.74m | 10:51AM1.75m | 11:19PM1.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:14AM0.18m | 4:31PM0.28m | 4:58AM0.20m | 5:20PM0.32m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | 2 | — | 5 | 8 | 13 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NE 5 | NE 9 | NE 9 | N 6 | N 7 | N 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | N 9 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | NE 9 | NW 6 | NE 4 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NNW 5 |
| kJ | 4 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 143 | 210 | 381 | 180 | 126 | 92 | 38 | 64 | 60 | 43 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 24 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | NE 9 | N 10 | — | NE 9 | NNE 10 | NE 10 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NW 6 | NE 9 | — | — | — | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 4 | NE 11 | N 11 | N 11 | NE 11 |
| kJ | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 10 | 32 | 76 | 11 | 15 | 29 | — | — | — | 30 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 10 | — | — | N 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | N 11 | N 11 | N 7 | N 7 | N 11 |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NNW 5 | N 5 | NNW 6 | — | — | — | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 4 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | SE 3 | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 4 | WSW 3 |
| kJ | 51 | 19 | 55 | 135 | — | — | — | 27 | 67 | 37 | 35 | 90 | 137 | 59 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 44 | 14 | 14 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 119 | 119 | 119 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 119 | 119 | 0 | 119 | 131 | 121 | 47 | 47 | 119 | 119 | 5 | 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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