Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it, folks. Rusty here, and I’ve got the look ahead for the Whangamata Bar.

First up, we’ve got a rough start. The next few days are a write-off, with barely a ripple and conditions that are just plain ugly. Thursday the 6th sees a tiny 1.0ft ESE swell, but it’s pretty much flat, and we don’t see anything worth paddling for until the following week. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is bang on average for the time of year, so no shocks there.

We’ll be waiting through a long, dry spell until Monday the 10th. That’s when things finally start to breathe. Monday morning brings a 4ft north swell with a clean offshore wind, but the wave comment flat out says it’s just ordinary. Not terrible, but nothing to get excited about. The combined energy is moderate at 198. Monday afternoon goes glassy with a 3ft northerly, still a bit ordinary.

Tuesday the 11th is messy with onshore wind, forget it. Wednesday the 12th, however, is a bit of a gem. The morning is glassy, with a 5ft north-northeast swell, period around 8 seconds. The combined energy bumps up to 256, which is solid moderate. The wind is dead calm, so the surface will be clean as a whistle. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off breeze and 4ft. For a spot that’s inconsistent, this is a nice little window. This is the standout of the whole outlook. The swell direction is north-northeast, which is a good match for the optimum northeast direction for the bar. Crowds are possible here, so you might have some company, but the conditions will be worth it.

From Thursday the 13th onward, we’re back into poor conditions with onshore junk and chop. Friday the 14th gets a bit bigger but with a nasty cross-shore wind and a short period, making it messy. That 6ft on Friday afternoon is more of a washing machine.

The real wildcard is Saturday the 15th. The morning brings a solid 8ft north swell, with a period of 8 seconds and a clean cross-off wind. The combined energy is a massive 1462, which is strong. That’s some serious power. This is only for experienced surfers; 8ft is too big for beginners. The afternoon stays clean with 7ft. This is another potential standout, but it’s a week and a half out, so treat it as promising but not locked in. The swell direction is north, which is okay for the bar’s optimum northeast, but it’s a bit off.

After the 15th, it drops off fast. Sunday the 16th is back to small and ordinary, and then from Monday the 17th onward, the run of poor conditions starts again. The combined energy drops to single digits and low teens, with tiny swell and onshore winds. The last few days of the outlook are essentially flat.

So, if you’re sitting on the fence, mark Wednesday the 12th for a glassy session with some fun, clean waves. And keep an eye on Saturday the 15th for a powerful, expert-only swell, but don’t book the day off work just yet.

Rusty.

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