Whakatane Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.94° S 177.00° E

Whakatane Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whakatane Heads sea temperature is
14.1° C
0.7° 

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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, NW swell with 183 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. 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 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) 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 0.8m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Mon 24th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Best Surf12AM (Mon 24th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Most Powerful 3PM (Sun 23rd Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next stretch.

To be straight with you, the outlook for Whakatane Heads is a bit of a tough read. Over the next 16 days, the overall pattern is dominated by very small, weak swells and poor conditions. The combined swell energy is staying low, mostly under 100 (weak energy), with only a few brief spikes. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.

We kick off from Wednesday, August 19th, and it's flat. Expect tiny 0.3 ft swells and poor surf all through the week. The morning of the 20th and 21st are clean, but these waves are so small they're barely rideable. The breeze is light, but it's not enough to save the day.

Things won't get going until late in the second week. The first real standout arrives on the morning of Friday, August 28th. That's a solid 8 ft swell from the NNW, with a period of 8 seconds and a combined energy reading of 727 (strong). But, and it's a big but, the wind is howling onshore from the north at 19 mph, and it's light rain. This will be a messy, blown-out affair. At 8 ft, this is really only for the experts, and with the onshore wind, it's going to be a challenge. Later that afternoon, we see similar conditions with an 8 ft N swell.

The next interesting window is the morning of Saturday, August 29th. You'll see a 5 ft swell from the north, with a period of 8 seconds and moderate wave energy (331). The wind is light and cross-shore, so it's a little cleaner than Friday. The guidance says this spot is exposed to NNE swells, so this north swell isn't ideal, but it’s the best you'll see. Still, it's only a marginal forecast.

The morning of Sunday, August 30th, offers a 4 ft north swell with light cross-offshore winds, making for cleaner conditions. The energy is moderate (135). It's surfable, but very ordinary.

Moving into the first week of September, the swells drop back down. The mornings of September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd show some surfable waves with clean morning winds, but the swell sizes are tiny, around 2 ft to 3 ft. The energy is weak to moderate (108-158). The period is a long 10-11 seconds, but the direction is NE, which is a good match for the optimum. Still, these are small, very ordinary days.

Honestly, if you're desperate for a paddle, the cleanest early morning windows will be the only real options. The only thing that looks remotely interesting for the experienced crew is that Friday, August 28th, but the wind will ruin it. For the rest of us, it's a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
10
0.1
N
10
0.1
N
10
0.1
E
9
0.1
E
8
0.1
E
8
0.3
NW
3
0.1
E
6
0.3
WNW
3
0.5
W
3
0.4
WNW
4
0.7
NW
4
1.1
NW
5
1.6
NW
6
1.4
NW
7
0.9
NNW
6
0.6
NNW
6
0.9
NW
4
0.4
NNW
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
6
6
16
60
169
183
62
26
23
8
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSE
10
SSW
10
SSW
15
NNW
10
S
10
SW
10
NW
10
WSW
10
WNW
20
NW
20
WNW
25
NW
15
NW
10
SW
5
WSW
10
WNW
10
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
11:08PM1.80m
11:33AM1.73m
11:51PM1.75m
12:22PM1.68m
00:34AM1.69m
1:12PM1.64m
1:18AM1.63m
2:05PM1.62m
2:07AM1.58m
3:01PM1.61m
3:03AM1.55m
4:00PM1.61m
Low Tide
5:35AM0.28m
5:50PM0.40m
6:19AM0.34m
6:38PM0.48m
7:04AM0.42m
7:31PM0.55m
7:51AM0.49m
8:28PM0.61m
8:45AM0.54m
9:25PM0.63m
9:44AM0.56m
10:17PM0.62m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:52
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:47
6:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:38
5:39
5:40
5:40
5:42
5:43
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
9
10
11
8
13
13
11
13
14
13
14
15
13
13
17
12
15
17
12
Feels °C
5
3
5
4
10
9
9
10
11
10
9
11
9
8
14
9
13
14
9
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  • 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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