Whangamata Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.20° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 23 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 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, NE swell with 74 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. 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 0.6m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sat 29th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 29th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sun 30th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – the next couple of weeks are a real struggle for Whangamata Bar. We’ve got a long dry spell ahead with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t show up until Sunday the 30th of August, and even then it’s only just surfable.

Starting from Monday the 24th of August right through to Saturday the 29th, it’s a total write-off. Swell heights are stuck at 0.3ft to 0.7ft, with weak combined energy (10 to 39) and no push. The wind is mostly offshore or cross-off, so the water will look clean, but there’s simply no wave to ride. It’s a frustrating wait.

Finally, on Sunday the 30th of August, we get a little pulse. Morning sees a 2ft swell from the NE with a period of 9 seconds and combined energy hitting 58. The wind is offshore from the WSW at 12 mph, keeping it clean. Afternoon holds 2ft from the NE at 8 seconds, with energy up to 74, and the wind stays offshore from the W at 12 mph. It’s not going to blow anyone away – the wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – but it’s the first chance to get wet. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird.

Monday the 31st of August starts shaky with a 2ft swell and onshore cross-wind, but the afternoon turns glassy – SW wind at 3 mph, flat calm, 1ft NE swell. Clean as a whistle, but tiny. Tuesday the 1st of September and Wednesday the 2nd of September keep the offshore winds going, with swell hovering around 1ft to 2ft and energy in the 34 to 71 range. The waves are still ordinary, but if you’re desperate, the morning windows with clean glassy conditions might give you a fun little knee-high roller.

After that, from Thursday the 3rd of September onward, it fades again. Swell drops to 0.7ft to 1.0ft, energy barely reaches 44, and the wind turns onshore or cross-on, making it choppy and unappealing right through to Tuesday the 8th of September. The combined energy drops back to single digits and low teens – basically flat.

So, the standout here is the Sunday the 30th of August and the following Wednesday the 2nd of September mornings. The 30th has the biggest energy (74) and clean offshore wind, while the 2nd offers 2ft swell with a 9-second period and light offshore wind. It’s not pumping, but it’s the best of a very quiet run. The rest of the window is a gap of no real surf.

This is a typical quiet spell for the area – it doesn’t stay poor forever, and forecasts can change, but right now, pack a longboard and your patience.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
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
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
N
6
0.2
N
6
0.1
NE
12
0.1
NE
11
0.1
NE
11
0.1
E
12
0.1
E
11
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
12
0.1
NE
10
0.1
NE
10
0.1
NE
10
0.2
NNE
10
0.7
N
4
0.9
N
6
0.3
NE
9
0.3
NE
11
0.6
NE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
31
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
9
19
50
13
19
61
Wind (km/h)
20
WSW
15
SW
15
WSW
15
W
10
W
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
W
10
WSW
10
W
10
W
15
N
10
NW
15
NNW
20
N
10
NW
10
WNW
15
W
15
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
off
off
High Tide
3:14AM1.46m
3:55PM1.51m
4:08AM1.46m
4:48PM1.55m
5:00AM1.49m
5:35PM1.60m
5:49AM1.53m
6:19PM1.66m
6:34AM1.58m
7:01PM1.72m
7:18AM1.63m
7:41PM1.77m
Low Tide
9:06PM0.57m
9:28AM0.45m
10:02PM0.56m
10:22AM0.43m
10:57PM0.52m
11:13AM0.39m
11:47PM0.46m
12:01PM0.34m
00:34AM0.39m
12:46PM0.29m
1:18AM0.32m
1:29PM0.25m
1:59AM0.25m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:48
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
5:52
5:52
 mm
2
Temp °C
11
14
16
10
15
17
10
15
17
12
16
16
13
15
15
13
16
17
11
Feels °C
7
10
12
7
11
13
7
11
14
11
15
13
12
10
10
10
14
13
8
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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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