Surf Forecasts:
Whakatane Heads surf forecast from 25 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 28 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 27 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, NNW swell with 428 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 26 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with WNW 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 26) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s is also forecast. 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 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 27) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 28) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sat 26th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Mon 28th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sun 27th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whakatane Heads over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the WNW by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 26 | Sunday 27 | Monday 28 | Tuesday 29 | Wednesday 30 | Thursday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 5 | N 11 | NW 4 | WNW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 4 | W 4 | NW 5 | NW 3 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NE 9 | N 12 | NW 3 | WNW 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4 | 2 | 5 | 36 | 103 | 255 | 204 | 109 | 36 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | on | off | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:54AM1.67m | 6:22PM1.77m | 6:42AM1.71m | 7:03PM1.80m | 7:27AM1.76m | 7:46PM1.80m | 8:12AM1.81m | 8:34PM1.80m | 8:57AM1.84m | 9:24PM1.79m | 9:45AM1.84m | 10:14PM1.80m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:05AM0.40m | 12:16PM0.37m | 00:51AM0.31m | 1:02PM0.33m | 1:36AM0.24m | 1:49PM0.30m | 2:19AM0.19m | 2:38PM0.28m | 3:04AM0.18m | 3:26PM0.27m | 3:50AM0.19m | 4:15PM0.29m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | NW 4 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NE 10 | NW 4 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | — | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 11 |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 204 | 109 | 23 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | N 9 | — | NE 10 | N 13 | — | — | NE 11 | NE 11 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | N 9 | NNW 6 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | — | N 12 | NE 9 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 11 | NE 10 | — | NE 10 | N 9 | — | N 5 | N 12 | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | — | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 3 | NW 4 | WNW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | SW 4 | SW 3 | WNW 4 | W 4 | SSW 3 | NW 3 | NE 3 | ENE 3 | — | — | — | NW 3 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 5 | 36 | 103 | 255 | 11 | 2 | 36 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 90 | 118 | 119 | 47 | 119 | 119 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 47 | 118 | 121 | 119 | 119 | 133 | 119 | 119 | 131 | 119 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Bay of Plenty | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Whakatane Heads surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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