Whangamata Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.20° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Bar sea temperature is
14.5° C
0.3° 

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 7 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NNE swell with 2,467 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 09) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Sun 9th Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 6s
Best Surf 3AM (Fri 14th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 3PM (Fri 14th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve had a look at the charts for the next couple of weeks. To be honest, it’s a tough stretch for Whangamata Bar. The outlook starts on Friday the 7th of August, but there’s nothing worth paddling out for until the afternoon of Sunday the 9th, and even then it’s pretty ordinary. You’ll be staring at a flat spell from Friday through most of Saturday, with barely a ripple.

Come Sunday afternoon, we finally see a pulse of swell – 5 ft from the NNW with a short 6-second period, but the wind is cross-off and the combined energy is moderate (206). The conditions are surfable, but nothing to write home about. The water temperature is sitting at 58°, which is about average for this time of year. Monday the 10th offers a bit more of the same, with morning swell around 3 ft from the NNE, a 7-second period, and light offshore winds – clean, but weak energy (100). By Monday afternoon, the swell drops a little and the wind goes cross-off, still only ordinary.

The standout, if you can call it that, is shaping up for Friday the 14th of August. That afternoon, Whangamata Bar gets a solid 12 ft pulse from the NNE with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is massive (4098). The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean. But – and this is a big but – that’s a serious amount of water for the bar. It’s going to be only for experts at that size. The swell direction from the NNE is a good match for the optimum NE direction, and the long period means there’ll be proper groundswell energy, but at a beach/bar break, the sets might break a bit straight and the rip will be pumping. Not a beginner’s wave. And because it’s a week out, there’s still some uncertainty.

Before that, Thursday the 13th has a 4 ft NNE swell with a 7-second period and light cross-off winds in the morning – clean, but weak energy (127). It’s surfable, but just. The 12th is a write-off with strong onshore winds and choppy, messy conditions.

After the big Friday, the swell drops quickly. Saturday the 15th still has some size – 7 ft from the NE in the morning with a 9-second period and cross-off wind – but the energy is dropping (675). It’s still clean, but it’s on the way out. By Sunday the 16th, we’re back to ankle-to-knee-high (3 ft) and the wind swings onshore, so it’s over.

Then from Monday the 17th onwards, it’s flat and glassy for days – tiny swell, poor conditions, and no energy. A long blank run through to the end of the forecast on the 22nd. The only real highlight is that Friday the 14th burst, and if you’re an experienced local, it might be worth a look. For everyone else, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 5°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
PM
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
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
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
E
16
0.1
NE
15
0.1
NE
15
0.1
NE
14
0.1
NE
13
0.7
N
5
1.4
NNW
6
0.8
N
6
0.9
NNE
7
0.8
NNE
7
0.7
N
7
0.7
N
7
0.6
N
7
0.6
NNE
7
1.4
NNE
6
1.9
NNE
7
1.3
NNE
7
1.1
NNE
7
1.2
N
7
2.1
NNE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
5
8
9
7
7
24
139
51
91
73
54
48
34
37
160
326
183
121
146
468
Wind (km/h)
10
W
10
WSW
5
W
10
NNW
10
NNW
15
NNW
15
NNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
15
WSW
10
W
5
SW
5
ENE
10
NE
20
ENE
20
NE
5
N
5
NNW
15
N
10
NNE
Wind State
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
High Tide
1:21AM1.70m
2:04PM1.69m
2:22AM1.69m
3:08PM1.72m
3:27AM1.70m
4:11PM1.77m
4:31AM1.72m
5:13PM1.84m
5:33AM1.76m
6:11PM1.90m
6:31AM1.80m
7:05PM1.96m
Low Tide
7:15PM0.36m
7:46AM0.23m
8:15PM0.37m
8:46AM0.22m
9:20PM0.36m
9:48AM0.19m
10:25PM0.32m
10:51AM0.15m
11:29PM0.26m
11:51AM0.10m
00:29AM0.19m
12:48PM0.06m
1:25AM0.12m
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
mod rain
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:07
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:38
 mm
4
9
17
15
4
3
Temp °C
11
7
11
12
13
13
13
12
14
16
10
12
13
13
12
15
15
17
17
15
Feels °C
8
4
9
9
11
11
11
11
11
13
8
11
12
10
9
16
15
16
16
13
  • 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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