Whangamata Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.20° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 30 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Bar sea temperature is
14.7°C
0.2° 

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 30 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, NE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, NNW swell with 420 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) 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 0.7m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Mon 31st Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 9s
Best Surf 6AM (Mon 31st Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 9s
Most Powerful 3PM (Sun 6th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 7s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our local patch. To be straight with you, the next week and a half is looking flat and frustrating. The only real pulse of energy shows up on Friday the 4th of September, but even then it’s a messy, short-period affair.

Let’s run through it. The first solid chance doesn’t roll in until the 4th of September. That afternoon, Whangamata Bar (New Zealand) should see a NNW swell around 6ft, but the period is a weak 7 seconds – that’s windswell, not groundswell – with a fresh W breeze blowing offshore. The combined energy jumps to 442 (moderate), which is the biggest number we’ve got all month. It’s surfable, and it’ll be clean, but the shape will be a bit lumpy thanks to that short period. The water is sitting at 59°, which is about average for this time of year.

The trouble is, the swell direction is NNE, which isn’t the optimum NE direction for this bar, so it’s not going to fire perfectly. Still, with a clean offshore wind, it’s the only day worth paddling out. The morning of the 4th is a write-off – 3ft and a 6-second period with cross-off wind.

After that, it’s a crushing letdown. From Saturday the 5th right through to Monday the 14th of September, every single entry is either tiny (0.3ft to 2ft) or has poor surf conditions. The wind is mostly offshore or cross-off, but there’s simply no energy – the combined swell numbers are all below 70, mostly in the teens. It’s flat, mate. If you’re a beginner, there’s nothing to learn on; if you’re an expert, you’re staring at a lake.

The only other flicker is on the 4th of September afternoon, but that’s it. One afternoon of average surf in a 16-day window. The bar is inconsistent at the best of times, and this run is a classic blank stretch for the area. Forecasts can change, but for now, hang your wetsuit up for a bit.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
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)
0.9
NE
9
0.4
NE
9
0.4
NE
8
0.4
NE
10
0.5
NE
10
0.5
NE
10
0.4
NE
9
0.4
NE
9
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.9
N
6
0.7
N
7
0.4
N
6
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
126
27
18
35
47
44
22
21
12
12
15
10
10
10
62
50
12
11
10
Wind (km/h)
25
WSW
25
W
30
W
30
WSW
30
SW
25
WSW
20
WSW
20
W
20
W
15
W
15
WNW
20
WNW
15
NW
25
NW
20
WNW
10
W
10
W
10
WNW
5
WNW
Wind State
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
8:42AM1.72m
9:00PM1.82m
9:25AM1.75m
9:42PM1.82m
10:10AM1.76m
10:26PM1.80m
10:57AM1.76m
11:14PM1.76m
11:49AM1.74m
00:07AM1.72m
12:46PM1.72m
1:05AM1.68m
Low Tide
2:40AM0.20m
2:54PM0.22m
3:21AM0.16m
3:37PM0.22m
4:04AM0.15m
4:23PM0.24m
4:48AM0.15m
5:11PM0.27m
5:37AM0.18m
6:03PM0.31m
6:30AM0.21m
7:01PM0.34m
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
5:57
5:58
 mm
3
1
Temp °C
14
15
15
13
14
14
11
17
17
13
17
19
14
15
16
13
16
18
11
Feels °C
9
9
9
7
8
8
6
13
13
10
14
15
12
12
13
11
13
15
9
  • 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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