Whangamata Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.20° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 10 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Bar sea temperature is
15.2°C
0.6° 

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 10 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, ENE swell with 64 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with NE 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Bar in the next 16 days are 0.4m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 3PM. 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 Wednesday (Sep 16) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Fri 11th Sep)1.5ft (0.4m) 13s
Best Surf 9AM (Fri 11th Sep)1.5ft (0.4m) 13s
Most Powerful 3PM (Fri 11th Sep)1.5ft (0.4m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Well, I’ve had a proper look at what’s coming for Whangamata Bar over the next couple of weeks, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim stretch. We’ve got a long, flat spell to kick things off, and it takes a while before there’s anything worth paddling out for.

The water temp’s sitting about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. But for the first week and a half, the swell’s tiny and the energy’s weak. Friday morning the 11th starts with a tiny 1ft NE groundswell (13-second period), with a light cross-off breeze from the SSW at 6 mph. The combined energy is a measly 83 – flat as a tack. It’s clean, but you’d be fighting for a dribble. That afternoon stays small at 1ft, with a gentle offshore from the WSW at 9 mph, and energy at 95. Still surfable in the loosest sense, but nothing to write home about.

From Saturday the 12th right through to the morning of Sunday the 20th, it’s a wasteland. Day after day of 1ft, 0.7ft, even 0.3ft slop with combined energy dropping as low as 5. The wind’s often clean or offshore, but there’s just no swell to work with. It’s a solid gap of over a week where you’re better off leaving the board in the car. One odd little pulse shows up on Saturday afternoon the 19th with a 3ft NNW short-period windswell (6 seconds) and a fresh offshore breeze at 19 mph, but energy’s only 54 and the score is rubbish – not worth the drive.

Finally, on Sunday the 20th, we get a bit of a pulse. Sunday morning brings 5ft N swell with a short 8-second period and moderate offshore wind from the WSW at 12 mph. The combined energy jumps to 359, which is solid moderate energy. That’s the standout of the whole forecast. It’s a bit fat and crumbly for a bar break with that period, but if you’re an intermediate or above, that morning window is your best shot. The afternoon drops off to 3ft, so it’s a short-lived window.

Monday the 21st dribbles on with 3ft SE windswell (5 seconds) and an offshore breeze, but energy’s only 69 – nothing special. Then we get another little flare-up on Thursday the 24th: 4ft to 4ft ENE groundswell (10 seconds) with a moderate cross-off breeze from the NNW at 9–12 mph. Combined energy sits around 304 to 307, so there’s some push there. It’s still a marginal call – clean but not perfect – and could be a decent option if you’re keen for a mid-range day. The rest of the week trails off into tiny 2ft and weak surf again.

So, bottom line: if you’re desperate, Sunday the 20th morning is the real standout. Thursday the 24th is a backup. The rest is a long, flat slog. Look, it’s inconsistent as a rule here, so this kind of blank run isn’t unusual, but it doesn’t mean it’s permanent – forecasts can change. For now though, keep your expectations low.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

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

Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
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
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.4
ENE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.3
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
0.3
NE
13
0.3
NE
13
0.3
NE
13
0.3
NE
12
0.3
NE
12
0.3
NE
13
0.3
NE
11
0.3
NE
11
0.4
NE
12
0.4
NE
12
0.2
ENE
12
0.4
NE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
44
43
64
42
26
44
44
26
27
25
23
23
25
20
19
40
39
15
37
Wind (km/h)
5
SSW
10
SSW
15
WSW
30
WSW
25
SW
20
WSW
20
WSW
25
WSW
20
SW
10
WSW
5
W
5
W
15
WSW
10
W
15
WSW
15
W
15
WNW
20
WNW
15
NNW
Wind State
glassy
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
6:18AM1.77m
6:44PM1.90m
7:10AM1.81m
7:32PM1.91m
7:58AM1.83m
8:18PM1.89m
8:45AM1.83m
9:02PM1.85m
9:29AM1.81m
9:45PM1.79m
10:13AM1.76m
10:28PM1.71m
Low Tide
00:13AM0.18m
12:31PM0.14m
1:04AM0.12m
1:22PM0.12m
1:52AM0.09m
2:10PM0.13m
2:37AM0.08m
2:56PM0.16m
3:20AM0.11m
3:41PM0.22m
4:02AM0.16m
4:25PM0.28m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:20
6:20
6:18
6:16
6:15
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:02
6:04
6:05
6:05
6:06
6:07
 mm
2
Temp °C
12
14
14
12
15
15
12
15
17
11
16
16
11
17
17
12
15
15
13
Feels °C
11
12
11
6
9
10
7
10
12
7
15
14
8
13
13
9
11
11
9
  • Map Icons:
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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 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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