Whangamata Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.20° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 27 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Bar sea temperature is
14.4°C
0.1° 

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 27 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, N swell with 537 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with N 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 (Aug 28) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 4s 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 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Fri 28th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 5s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 29th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 8s
Most Powerful 9PM (Sat 29th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve got a tough one for you today. The 16-day window for the Whangamata Bar (Whangamata) is looking pretty bleak overall. There’s a long stretch of poor surf conditions starting now, with a real gap from the 27th of August right through until the 10th of September where there’s hardly anything worth paddling out for. The water temperature is sitting at 58°F, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a write-off. Thursday the 27th has tiny swell—0.3ft from the NE with a period of just 10 seconds and combined energy of only 6 (weak). Cross-shore winds and poor surf mean it’s a flat day. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th see a bit more size, up to 6ft on Saturday afternoon with combined energy of 349 (moderate), but the swell is short-period (8 seconds) and the winds are cross-shore, making it messy. Even Sunday the 30th has cleaner cross-offshore winds, but the swell is still only 4ft from the NNE with weak energy (219). It’s surfable but nothing to get excited about.

From Monday the 31st of August through to Saturday the 6th of September, the swell drops to tiny—0.7ft to 2ft—with periods around 6 to 10 seconds and combined energy under 100 (weak). Offshore winds are good on many mornings, but there’s simply not enough swell to work with. The Whangamata Bar is inconsistent at the best of times, and this stretch is a classic blank run for the area.

Now, the standout—if you can call it that—is Tuesday the 8th of September. The morning has 4ft swell from the N with a period of 8 seconds and combined energy of 166 (moderate). The wind is glassy, which is a rare treat, and the conditions are clean. The swell is a bit short-period, but the glassy conditions will make it look better than it is. That’s your best bet in the whole 16 days. After that, the 10th of September has 3ft from the N with moderate offshore winds and combined energy of 120 (moderate), but it’s nothing special.

Honestly, if you’re keen for a paddle, aim for the 8th of September morning. Otherwise, it’s a long wait.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds.

Thu
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
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
0
2
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
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)
0.1
NE
10
0.6
ENE
4
0.8
ENE
5
0.7
N
5
0.9
N
5
1.2
N
6
1.5
N
7
1.7
NNE
8
1.4
NNE
8
1.2
NE
8
1
NE
9
0.8
NE
9
0.6
NE
9
0.6
NE
10
0.6
NE
10
0.5
NE
10
0.4
NE
9
0.4
NE
9
0.4
NE
8
0.3
NE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4
10
27
22
43
109
214
335
242
178
145
95
62
58
59
45
31
20
18
19
Wind (km/h)
10
N
20
NE
15
NNW
20
N
15
NNW
10
N
20
NE
15
W
30
SW
30
WSW
30
WSW
25
WSW
25
W
25
W
20
WSW
25
WSW
15
SW
15
WSW
15
W
20
W
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
High Tide
6:19PM1.66m
6:34AM1.58m
7:01PM1.72m
7:18AM1.63m
7:41PM1.77m
8:00AM1.68m
8:20PM1.80m
8:42AM1.72m
9:00PM1.82m
9:25AM1.75m
9:42PM1.82m
10:10AM1.76m
10:26PM1.80m
Low Tide
00:34AM0.39m
12:46PM0.29m
1:18AM0.32m
1:29PM0.25m
1:59AM0.25m
2:12PM0.23m
2:40AM0.20m
2:54PM0.22m
3:21AM0.16m
3:37PM0.22m
4:04AM0.15m
4:23PM0.24m
clear
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:41
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
 mm
2
5
14
3
Temp °C
16
13
15
15
13
14
14
13
16
16
13
15
15
13
16
16
12
16
17
13
Feels °C
14
11
10
11
11
12
12
12
10
10
7
9
10
7
11
11
8
12
13
10
  • 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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