Whangamata Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.20° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 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: Sunday 30 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, NE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, NNE swell with 235 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period. 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 1.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) 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 1.2m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Sun 30th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s
Best Surf 9PM (Sun 30th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s
Most Powerful 3PM (Sun 30th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s happening on our shores over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim run for the Whangamata Bar. The surf is looking small and uninspiring for the vast majority of the period. The water temperature is sitting at 59°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The whole forecast is a long stretch of weak, short-period slop. We’ve got a few days coming up where the wind is offshore, which is a positive, but the swell is just too tiny to get excited about. From Sunday the 30th of August right through to Monday the 14th of September, the wave heights barely scrape past 5 ft, and most of the time they’re under 3 ft. The combined swell energy is mostly in the double digits, sometimes reaching low triple digits, but it’s just not enough to push any real shape into the beach.

The only realistic window where the surf might be worth a paddle is on the afternoon of Friday the 4th of September. We’ll see a bump from the NNW at 4 ft, with a short period around 6 seconds. The combined energy hits 197, which is at least moderate, and the wind is offshore from the WSW at 12 mph. The conditions are described as “surfable waves but very ordinary,” and honestly, that’s the best we’ve got. It’s still pretty messy, but for an intermediate surfer who’s desperate, it might be a fun little session. The swell direction is a bit off the optimum NE, but the offshore wind will keep it clean.

Other than that, the rest of the period is a write-off. The morning of Monday the 7th of September shows a bit of a pulse from the NNW at 5 ft with a 7-second period, giving us 271 in combined energy, but the wind is cross-off and the commentary says “marginal.” It’s not enough to change the outlook.

So, in short, there’s nothing to get excited about here. The Whangamata Bar is known for being inconsistent, and this is one of those times. If you’re absolutely hanging for a wave, the Friday afternoon is your only shot, but don’t expect much. The rest of the time, you’re better off checking the forecasts or doing something else. This is a pretty blank run for the area.

Keep your eyes peeled, though. Things can change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
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
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)
1.6
NNE
8
1.3
NNE
8
0.9
NE
9
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
NE
10
0.4
NE
10
0.6
NE
10
0.5
NE
9
0.4
NE
9
0.4
NE
9
0.3
NE
8
0.3
NE
9
0.2
ENE
10
0.7
NNW
6
0.6
N
6
1.3
NNW
6
0.9
N
7
0.6
N
8
0.4
N
6
0.4
N
6
0.4
N
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
347
235
126
32
24
34
60
43
22
20
11
12
10
37
28
136
83
44
11
11
10
Wind (km/h)
35
SW
35
WSW
25
WSW
25
W
30
W
25
WSW
25
SW
25
WSW
20
WSW
20
WSW
20
W
20
WNW
20
WNW
20
WNW
20
WNW
20
NW
15
W
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
SW
10
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
8:20PM1.80m
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
2:12PM0.23m
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
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
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>
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
5:57
5:58
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
16
16
13
15
15
12
14
14
11
16
17
13
17
17
15
17
19
12
17
17
11
Feels °C
11
9
8
10
9
6
8
8
6
11
12
8
14
14
12
14
16
9
14
13
8
  • 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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