Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 5s period, N swell with 20 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 0.6m 5s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 9AM. 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here. Let's cut the crap – the Bay of Plenty is looking dead flat for a good long stretch. The first ten days of this forecast are a total waste of time, so don't even bother waxing up.
The first real pulse, and I mean a tiny pulse, shows up on Saturday the 25th of July. We're looking at a 3ft swell from the NE, but it's a short period around 9 seconds, so it's weak and gutless. The combined energy is only moderate (155). The wind is light offshore from the SSW, so it'll be clean. You might snag a few ankle-biters, but it's nothing to get out of bed for.
The only session that truly stands out is the afternoon of the 25th. The swell ticks up a hair to 4ft from the NE, the period bumps to 10 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to a solid moderate (200). But the real star is the wind – it goes glassy. Dead flat calm. That's a beauty at Whakatane Heads, and those waves will be clean as a whistle. It's a narrow window, but if you can sneak off for that afternoon surf, you'll be laughing.
The run might hold into Monday the 27th as well. The morning brings a 3ft NE swell, but the period stretches to 11 seconds. That's a proper groundswell, and the combined energy hits the highest mark in the whole run at 216 (strong). With a clean offshore breeze from the S, those waves will have some serious grunt and shape. Just a heads up, that long period groundswell can make the beach breaks stand up a bit too straight, but the Heads handles it like a champ.
After that, the swell fades. The 28th has a weird 6ft spike from the NNW, but it's a short, messy windswell (6 seconds) with cross-on winds. It'll be a choppy, blown-out mess. The 29th and 30th are back to small, ordinary waves. Not worth the drive.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a total flat blank. The 25th afternoon is your best shot. The 27th morning is a close second, with more power. Then it's back to waiting. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so you'll be fine in a wetsuit.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tue 21 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | NNE 5 | N 4 | NW 3 | E 20 | E 19 | NNW 5 | WNW 4 | W 3 | W 4 | WNW 5 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 10 | ENE 5 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 39 | 20 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | glassy |
High Tide | 6:51AM1.95m | 7:31PM2.13m | 7:46AM1.96m | 8:21PM2.14m | 8:39AM1.95m | 9:11PM2.10m | 9:30AM1.92m | 10:02PM2.02m | 10:22AM1.87m | 10:52PM1.94m | 11:14AM1.82m | 11:41PM1.87m | 12:07PM1.76m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 00:59AM0.42m | 1:17PM0.22m | 1:57AM0.38m | 2:09PM0.19m | 2:51AM0.34m | 3:01PM0.21m | 3:42AM0.30m | 3:53PM0.24m | 4:33AM0.28m | 4:44PM0.30m | 5:22AM0.28m | 5:34PM0.36m | 6:10AM0.31m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — |
 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | NNE 5 | N 4 | NE 10 | NW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | W 3 | NE 9 | N 10 | WNW 3 | — | N 9 | N 9 | — | ENE 5 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 |
| kJ | 39 | 20 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NNW 3 | NE 10 | — | NE 9 | NE 9 | NNW 5 | WNW 4 | — | — | WNW 5 | N 9 | — | — | N 10 | — | N 8 | N 6 | N 10 |
| kJ | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | NNW 6 | NW 5 | E 12 | E 20 | E 19 | NE 9 | NW 5 | — | — | N 9 | — | — | — | N 8 | E 7 | N 10 | N 9 | N 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 2 | WSW 3 | — | NW 3 | W 3 | WSW 3 | — | — | W 3 | W 4 | SSW 3 | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 15 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 47 | 118 | 131 | 118 | 118 | 118 | 118 | 81 | 110 | 90 | 118 | 118 | 81 | 90 | 90 | 118 | 118 | 118 | 118 | 118 | 126 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Bay of Plenty | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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