Whangamata Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.20° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Bar sea temperature is
14.9° 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 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, NNW swell with 218 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Bar in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Fri 24th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 6s
Best Surf 6PM (Fri 24th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 6s
Most Powerful 6PM (Fri 24th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a proper quiet spell for Whangamata Bar. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing much to write home about, with tiny, weak swells and a whole lot of “poor surf conditions” stamped across the forecast. The first hint of anything rideable doesn’t pop up until Thursday the 30th of July, and even then, it’s just a glimmer.

For the first ten days, from Monday the 20th right through to Wednesday the 29th, you’re looking at flat to tiny waves. Swell heights are barely cracking 2 ft, with periods all over the shop and energy readings that are just sad – we’re talking values like 19, 13, 2, all in the weak category. The wind does swing offshore a few times, especially around the 26th and 27th with a clean WSW breeze, but there’s just no swell to work with. It’s a frustrating wait.

Then, on Thursday the 30th of July, we finally get a little pulse. The morning shows a 3 ft swell from the north, with a period of 6 seconds and the combined energy climbing to 96 (weak). The wind is glassy, which is a big bonus, but the wave comment says it all: “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The afternoon gets messy as the wind swings onshore and the swell jumps to 4 ft, but the period drops to 8 seconds and the energy hits 208 (moderate). It’s not great, but it’s the first real sign of life.

Friday the 31st of July morning is probably your best bet. We’ve got a 3 ft north swell, 9-second period, and a light offshore wind from the WSW. The energy is 162 (moderate). It’s not a classic, and the break is inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for sets, but it’ll be clean and surfable. The afternoon turns a bit lumpy with a cross-off breeze.

After that, it fades again into the first week of August. The 1st and 2nd offer tiny, glassy conditions with swells around 1-2 ft and very long periods (14-15 seconds), but the energy is weak (63-91) and the waves are just too small to get excited about. The long period means those little waves will be more organised, but there’s just not enough push.

So, the standout window is the morning of Friday the 31st of July. It’s not a day to call in sick for, but if you’re jonesing for a paddle, that’s the cleanest, most promising session in the whole 16 days. The water temperature is sitting at 59°F, which is pretty much normal for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the W by Fri night).

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
AM
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
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)
0.2
E
12
0.5
E
4
0.9
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
5
0.5
ENE
5
0.4
ENE
5
0.3
ENE
4
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.1
N
7
0.2
E
7
0.3
ENE
7
0.3
E
6
0.3
E
6
0.8
N
8
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.4
E
11
0.3
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
11
7
58
19
13
9
4
2
2
1
3
9
7
7
72
56
56
60
55
35
19
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
15
ESE
20
SE
5
SSE
5
ESE
10
WSW
10
WSW
15
WSW
10
WSW
5
SW
5
NW
10
W
15
NW
20
NW
35
W
25
WSW
25
W
30
WSW
25
WSW
30
WSW
35
WSW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
11:17AM1.74m
11:38PM1.82m
12:09PM1.68m
00:27AM1.72m
1:01PM1.62m
1:16AM1.63m
1:54PM1.57m
2:06AM1.56m
2:47PM1.54m
2:58AM1.52m
3:39PM1.53m
3:50AM1.50m
4:31PM1.54m
Low Tide
5:26PM0.21m
5:59AM0.18m
6:16PM0.30m
6:47AM0.25m
7:06PM0.40m
7:35AM0.32m
7:57PM0.47m
8:24AM0.37m
8:50PM0.52m
9:14AM0.41m
9:43PM0.55m
10:05AM0.42m
10:36PM0.54m
light rain
mod rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
rain showers
clear
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:24
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:20
7:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:20
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:24
 mm
2
6
1
5
2
4
1
2
Temp °C
13
11
10
12
12
9
13
13
11
12
13
11
14
13
12
13
13
12
11
11
10
Feels °C
11
8
5
10
10
7
10
10
8
11
12
9
9
10
8
7
7
6
4
4
2
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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