Whangamata Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.20° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Bar sea temperature is
14.5° C
0.0° 

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


Whangamata Bar surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, NNW swell with 140 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period with NNW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whangamata Bar this week:

The surf forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Bar in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sun 23rd Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s
Best Surf 6PM (Sun 23rd Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sun 23rd Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaking for Whangamata Bar over the next couple of weeks.

We’re in for a long, flat spell to start. The first solid action doesn’t even show up until late in the first week, and even then it’s a slow build. You’ll be waiting until Sunday the 30th of August afternoon for the real event. That’s a solid pulse of 6ft swell thumping in from the NNW, running at 7 seconds and packing some serious weight with a combined energy of 491 (moderate wave energy). The wind swings offshore from the W at just 6 mph, keeping it clean and lined up. That’s the standout of the whole outlook – it’s not huge, but it’s a proper wave for an intermediate surfer. A touch too much for beginners, but for the rest of us, that’s the session to target. Keep in mind this break is inconsistent, so when it turns on, you paddle.

Before that, Thursday 27th and Friday 28th of August offer tiny, weak options. Thursday morning sees a bump to 2ft from the E, period a brief 5 seconds and energy only 14. By afternoon it improves slightly to 3ft from the ENE, still a 5-second period, but energy climbs to 81. Still ordinary, but at least you’re in the water. Friday morning gets glassy with a 3ft NNE swell, 5-second period and 93 energy. Clean but mushy.

From late August into early September, the energy drops right back. The Bar stays small, with occasional knee-high dribbles. The morning of 1st September offers 2ft from the NE, an 11-second period which is a nice long groundswell, but combined energy is only 55. Offshore WSW wind at 9 mph keeps it clean but there’s just not enough push. The 3rd of September gets a fresh offshore breeze of 19 mph, but the swell is only 1.0ft – hard to paddle into and not worth the effort. By the 5th and 6th of September, we’re looking at tiny 2ft or 0.7ft swells, glassy mornings, but no real power.

Water temp anomaly isn’t given in the guidance, so no standout info there. For crowds, this spot can get busy sometimes, so if you hit that Sunday 30th afternoon window, expect a few others who’ve been waiting just as long.

Hang in there. It’s a dry run for the most part, but that one Sunday afternoon looks like it’ll be worth the wait.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
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
0
0
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
9
0.1
E
8
0.1
NE
14
0.1
NE
14
0.1
NE
13
0.1
NE
13
0.7
N
7
0.3
N
6
0.1
NE
12
0.1
NE
11
0.1
NE
11
0.1
E
12
0.1
E
11
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
13
0.1
NE
10
0.5
E
5
0.9
ENE
5
0.9
ENE
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
7
1
8
8
7
7
44
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
10
44
45
Wind (km/h)
10
W
10
W
20
W
15
WNW
20
NW
25
WNW
20
W
15
WSW
15
WSW
10
W
15
W
15
WSW
15
W
15
WSW
10
WSW
15
WSW
10
WSW
5
WSW
10
W
Wind State
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
1:26AM1.52m
2:05PM1.52m
2:19AM1.47m
3:00PM1.50m
3:14AM1.46m
3:55PM1.51m
4:08AM1.46m
4:48PM1.55m
5:00AM1.49m
5:35PM1.60m
5:49AM1.53m
6:19PM1.66m
Low Tide
7:42AM0.41m
8:11PM0.55m
8:34AM0.45m
9:06PM0.57m
9:28AM0.45m
10:02PM0.56m
10:22AM0.43m
10:57PM0.52m
11:13AM0.39m
11:47PM0.46m
12:01PM0.34m
00:34AM0.39m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:52
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:46
6:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:47
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
 mm
1
Temp °C
11
14
15
10
15
15
12
15
16
10
16
17
11
16
17
12
16
17
13
Feels °C
8
10
10
6
10
10
7
10
11
7
12
13
8
13
14
10
15
16
11
  • 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 Whangamata Bar Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Whangamata Bar provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whangamata Bar can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whangamata Bar 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 (Whangamata Bar) 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 Whangamata Bar 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.

Whangamata Bar is 59 km (37 miles) from the city of Tauranga. If you plan a holiday in The Coromandel, look for hotels and other accommodation in Tauranga. Tauranga has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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