Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – for the next week and a half, the surf around Whakatane Heads is a bit of a mixed bag, and honestly, there’s a lot of quiet time. The only real spot on the menu is Whakatane Heads, and it’s not exactly firing. We’ve got a few windows where it’ll be rideable, but nothing to wet your pants over. The water’s sitting at 57°, a touch over a degree colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.

The first standout is Thursday, the 13th of August. Both the morning and afternoon sessions are your best bet. In the morning, you’ve got a 5ft NNE swell with a short period of 7 seconds, and a cross-off ESE breeze at 6 mph. The combined energy is moderate at 275. It’s not a groundswell, so it’ll be a bit punchy, but the wind will keep it clean. The afternoon stays similar, with a 5ft swell and the same offshore wind. It’s advanced-level territory at that size, but for a Thursday, it’s the pick of the bunch.

Friday the 14th offers a smaller, cleaner morning session with a 4ft NE swell, also 7 seconds, and a light SE cross-off breeze. The energy drops to 135, so it’s weaker, but still surfable. Saturday morning, the 15th, clears up with a 4ft NE swell again, and a solid SSW offshore wind at 6 mph. The energy is 123 – not massive, but the offshore wind will make it look pretty. Just be aware crowds are possible here.

After that, we hit a dead zone. From Sunday afternoon the 16th right through to the 23rd of August, the swell drops to barely anything – 1ft or less – and the energy readings are in the single digits or low teens. You’re looking at a solid week of flat, poor surf. It’s a long gap, and it’s not unusual for this area when the consistency drops off.

There’s a glimmer of hope way out on the 24th of August, Monday. The morning brings a 3ft NNE swell with a 9-second period, clean off a light SSW wind. The energy is 159, so it’s moderate. The 25th (Tuesday) morning is glassy with a 3ft NE swell, period 9 seconds, and 158 energy. That’s worth a paddle if you’re patient. But it’s over a week away, so keep an eye on the charts – it’s promising but not locked in.

Overall, the best session is hands-down Thursday morning the 13th – bigger swell, clean conditions, and the energy is there. The rest is waiting or scratching around for tiny waves.

Rusty.

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