Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Bar surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, E swell with 39 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whangamata Bar this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Bar in the next 16 days are 0.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for the local stretch.
Well, I gotta be straight with ya – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for a proper paddle. We’ve got a long dry spell on our hands. From now until the end of August, it’s a whole lot of nothing. Tiny waves, weak energy, and just generally poor surf. There's basically a 13-day gap with no decent recommendations. It’s one of those stretches where the ocean just seems to be taking a nap. You’d be better off finding something else to do than staring at the horizon.
Now, hold onto your board, because things finally look like they might turn around right at the end of the forecast period. We're talking about the first of September, which is a solid week and a half away, so take it with a pinch of salt, but the models are showing something promising.
The standout is Whangamata Bar. On the morning of the 1st of September, we could be looking at some serious muscle. The forecast is for a 10ft swell from the north, and the energy reading is through the roof – that's some proper grunt. To top it off, it’s looking glassy with light easterly breezes, which is about as good as it gets for clean conditions. That’s a big, powerful groundswell (9 second period), and for a spot like this bar, that could be pumping out some memorable waves. Now, at that size, this is strictly for experienced surfers only. Beginners, stay on the beach for this one. It’s the only real standout in the whole outlook, so if you can wait, it might just be worth it.
The following days look like the swell eases off a bit, but there might be some ok waves on offer. The crowd situation at Whangamata Bar can get pretty full-on when it’s good, so be prepared for a packed line-up.
Alright, that's the gist of it. A long wait for what could be a beauty of a day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | S 5 | E 10 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | NE 14 | NE 14 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NE 12 | NE 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 61 | 44 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 34 | 31 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 10:46AM1.75m | 11:03PM1.77m | 11:34AM1.69m | 11:49PM1.68m | 12:22PM1.62m | 00:36AM1.59m | 1:12PM1.56m | 1:26AM1.52m | 2:05PM1.52m | 2:19AM1.47m | 3:00PM1.50m | 3:14AM1.46m | 3:55PM1.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:56PM0.24m | 5:22AM0.20m | 5:42PM0.33m | 6:07AM0.28m | 6:30PM0.42m | 6:53AM0.35m | 7:19PM0.49m | 7:42AM0.41m | 8:11PM0.55m | 8:34AM0.45m | 9:06PM0.57m | 9:28AM0.45m | 10:02PM0.56m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | SE 5 | ESE 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | NW 4 | E 9 | E 13 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 |
| kJ | 61 | 44 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 34 | 31 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 4 | E 9 | E 8 | — | E 6 | E 9 | E 9 | E 7 | NE 14 | NE 14 | NE 13 | E 12 | NE 10 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 12 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 12 | — | — | N 10 | — | N 9 | — | E 9 | — | E 11 | E 12 | NE 13 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | NE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 3 | S 5 | — | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 5 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | W 3 | WSW 2 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 10 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 109 | 116 | 161 | 161 | 6 | 6 | 109 | 109 | 109 | 195 | 154 | 195 | 237 | 237 | 237 | 6 | 132 | 237 | 242 | 242 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Coromandel | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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