Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve run the numbers for the next couple of weeks, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty bleak run for the Coromandel. We’ve got a 16-day window, and the truth is, there’s nothing here that gets the heart pumping. The first bit of anything remotely surfable doesn’t show up until Monday the 7th of September, and even then, it’s a big "if." Let’s break it down.

The overall pattern is dominated by tiny, anemic swells. For the first few days, we’re looking at flat, poor conditions. The wait feels long. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd? Forget it. Nothing.

We finally see a pulse on Monday the 7th of September at Whangamata Bar. A north swell pushes through, about 4ft (combined energy of 199 – moderate) early, dropping to 4ft (energy of 145) in the arvo. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s not a groundswell – expect a bit of chop. The wind is cross-offshore, which keeps it clean-looking, but the description is "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." That’s about as excited as I can get for this. It’s inconsistent here too, so you’ll be sitting waiting. Water temp is about 59°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, nothing special. If you’re a beginner, that 4ft is on the upper edge of your comfort zone, but the lack of quality makes it a gamble.

Tuesday the 8th of September has a similar story. Morning sees a tiny 2ft north-northeast swell (energy 79 – weak), but the afternoon bump to 3ft from the north with an offshore wind makes it the cleanest option of the two days. Still, it’s only a 7-second period – short and choppy.

That’s pretty much it, folks. After Tuesday the 8th, we slide straight back into junk. From Wednesday the 9th of September all the way through to the end of the forecast on the 18th of September, it’s all under 2ft, with poor surf conditions marked. Swell periods get longer – up to 15 seconds – but with heights that tiny, you’re just looking at a slick ocean. The winds are mostly offshore or cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but there’s nothing to surf on.

So, the standout? If you absolutely *have* to get wet, Monday the 7th of September at Whangamata Bar is the only one worth paddling out for. It’s not a classic by any stretch, but it’s the best of a very quiet bunch. Be mindful of the crowds here – it can get busy, and the spot is inconsistent, so it might be a bit frustrating. If it’s more than 5ft, it’s for the experts, but we’re well under that here, so intermediates can handle it.

Honestly, for a stretch this long with so little on offer, it’s probably a good time to fix a ding, clean the wax off, and hope the next system delivers. Forecasts can change, but right now, this is what we’ve got.

Rusty

Read more