Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, NNW swell with 557 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and we’re looking at the next couple of weeks around Whakatane Heads.
First up, the bad news: we have next to nothing for a while. The next few days are a total write-off, folks. Friday afternoon (September 4th) is raw with a strong cross-on wind and a choppy, messy 5ft swell (combined energy 183). The water’s sitting at 56°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year. Not worth paddling out.
The real waiting game begins. There is a tiny glimmer of hope early Saturday morning (September 5th) when the wind swings offshore (WSW), giving us clean conditions, but with only 3ft on offer and a short period of 7 seconds, combined energy is just 71. It’s surfable but very ordinary. Sunday is even smaller.
The first proper standout isn’t until the following week. Tuesday morning, September 8th, brings a clean session with a light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW. The swell will be a solid 6ft from the NNW, with a period of 8 seconds, pushing a combined energy of 532. That’s a strong, punchy wave that will be too much for beginners but should have some nice bowly sections for the advanced crew. Just be aware, the afternoon wind swings onshore and chops it up, so get it early.
Wednesday morning, September 9th, offers a quick return to clean, cross-off conditions with some smaller 2ft waves if you just need a paddle.
Then we hit another lull. There is nothing of substance for several days until Monday morning, September 14th. That morning is looking promising with clean conditions, a light SSE offshore breeze, and a strong 6ft swell from the NW with a combined energy of 238. The period is short at 6 seconds, so the wave won’t have that long-period grunt, but the wind will be perfect for clean faces. This is easily the best on offer across the whole forecast—a true standout for that date.
After that? A couple of tiny, cleaner days with offshore winds, but nothing with any real power.
So to sum it up: Wait out the rough, messy start. If you’re keen, the early session Tuesday the 8th is your best bet before the wind ruins it. If you want a clean, glassy window with a bit more size, mark your calendar for Monday morning, September 14th. That’s the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the NNW by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNE 7 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 179 | 124 | 67 | 51 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 62 | 131 | 557 | 412 | 522 | 457 | 250 | 50 | 27 | 33 | 29 | 29 | 77 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:10AM1.74m | 12:43PM1.72m | 1:04AM1.74m | 1:46PM1.72m | 2:04AM1.72m | 2:55PM1.75m | 3:10AM1.70m | 4:03PM1.80m | 4:17AM1.70m | 5:03PM1.86m | 5:20AM1.71m | 5:57PM1.90m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:13PM0.37m | 6:39AM0.29m | 7:12PM0.42m | 7:36AM0.32m | 8:16PM0.45m | 8:39AM0.34m | 9:22PM0.46m | 9:43AM0.33m | 10:25PM0.43m | 10:45AM0.30m | 11:27PM0.37m | 11:42AM0.28m | 00:24AM0.31m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 15 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 11 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NE 10 | NNW 5 | NW 4 | NE 9 | NE 10 | E 9 | NNW 8 | E 10 | NNW 8 | NE 17 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNE 7 | N 6 | NE 6 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | 4 | 124 | 67 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 557 | 2 | 522 | 11 | 250 | 50 | 27 | 33 | 12 | 10 | 77 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 10 | NE 10 | — | NE 10 | NE 10 | — | N 8 | — | — | N 16 | NE 16 | — | NE 17 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNW 7 | NE 7 | NE 14 | NE 10 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 10 | — | 11 | 28 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 29 | 34 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 15 | NE 8 | NNE 14 | NE 14 | ENE 9 | NE 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 20 | 18 | 29 | 7 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | W 3 | — | NW 6 | W 4 | — | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | — | NNW 8 | — | NNW 8 | — | — | — | NW 3 | — | WNW 4 | W 4 |
| kJ | 179 | 8 | — | 51 | 9 | — | 9 | 62 | 131 | — | 412 | — | 457 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 18 | 37 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 119 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 103 | 5 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 81 | 14 | 113 | 0 |
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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