Whakatane Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.94° S 177.00° E

Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 14 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whakatane Heads sea temperature is
15.0° C
0.2° 

Whakatane Heads surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


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 TypeTime (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 Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly 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
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
N
6
0.6
N
5
0.5
N
5
0.3
NNE
5
0.3
N
4
0.5
NW
3
0.1
E
20
0.1
E
19
0.2
NNW
5
0.2
WNW
4
0.5
W
3
0.7
W
4
0.2
WNW
5
0.1
N
9
0.1
N
9
0.1
N
9
0.1
N
10
0.2
ENE
5
0.4
NE
4
0.3
NE
4
0.3
NE
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy 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)
10
SSW
10
SSW
5
W
10
SW
10
W
15
WNW
15
WSW
5
SW
5
NNE
10
S
10
W
15
W
10
SSW
15
SSE
15
SSE
20
SSE
15
SSE
10
ESE
10
SSE
10
S
5
NNW
Wind State
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
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:24
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
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
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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