
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Bar surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, E swell with 1,075 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with NNE 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Bar in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s run through it in feet and miles.
Look, I’ll level with you. The next 16 days at Whangamata Bar are going to test your patience. There’s a big dry spell right off the bat, and the good moments are few and far between. You’re mostly looking at wind-blown, low-energy slop, with a couple of golden windows if you time it right.
The first real chance to get the board wet is Friday morning, August 14th. We’ve got a 5-foot swell from the ENE, but it’s a short-period 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and raw. The saving grace is a glassy 3 mph wind from the NE – that keeps the surface clean and lets the Bar do its thing. The combined swell energy is a moderate 390, so there’s enough to push you around. Water temp is 59°, right on the money for this time of year.
But the absolute standout is Sunday, August 16th. The morning serves up a solid 6-foot swell from the East (9-second period) with a clean, cross-offshore breeze from the SW at 9 mph. That’s a proper combo for the Bar. The afternoon is even cleaner: glassy, light winds, and a tidy 5-foot swell with 380 wave energy. This is the session. It’s a bit much for learners, but for anyone comfortable in solid head-high waves, this is the best of the whole forecast.
After that, it’s a long, slow fade. From Monday the 17th onward, it’s mostly small, wind-chopped, or completely flat. Energy values tank – we’re talking 26 and even 6 later on – that’s barely a ripple. The only other flicker is Wednesday, August 19th morning with another glassy morning and a tiny 2-foot swell, but honestly, it’s not worth stressing about.
If you’re going to make a move, hit the Friday glass-off or Sunday. The rest of the run? The Bar is more interesting for the kite crew when the SE and ESE winds kick up in the second week. The long-range stuff at the end (22nd onward) shows some long-period groundswell (13 seconds), but the energy is so weak (10) that it’s just a tease.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu night, min 10°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
105 | 107 | 125 | 277 | 178 | 207 | 225 | 120 | 248 | 236 | 243 | 163 | 152 | 691 | 723 | 484 | 380 | 220 | 140 | 125 | 207 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:13PM1.84m | 5:33AM1.76m | 6:11PM1.90m | 6:31AM1.80m | 7:05PM1.96m | 7:27AM1.83m | 7:56PM1.98m | 8:19AM1.85m | 8:45PM1.97m | 9:10AM1.84m | 9:32PM1.93m | 9:59AM1.80m | 10:18PM1.86m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:51AM0.15m | 11:29PM0.26m | 11:51AM0.10m | 00:29AM0.19m | 12:48PM0.06m | 1:25AM0.12m | 1:41PM0.04m | 2:17AM0.08m | 2:32PM0.05m | 3:06AM0.06m | 3:21PM0.09m | 3:52AM0.08m | 4:09PM0.16m | ||||||||
7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 8 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | N 12 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | — | NNE 7 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 8 |
105 | 107 | 125 | 3 | 178 | 207 | — | 120 | 162 | 150 | 243 | 163 | 152 | 691 | 723 | 484 | 380 | 220 | 140 | 125 | 207 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | — | — | — | N 12 | E 14 | N 11 | N 11 | E 16 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 11 | NE 11 |
5 | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | N 13 | N 13 | — | — | — | — | E 13 | E 15 | — | — | E 8 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | — | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 4 | NE 8 | E 5 | E 6 | NE 7 | E 5 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | — | — | SSE 3 | — | SSE 4 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | S 3 | S 3 | S 6 |
— | — | 8 | 277 | 37 | 38 | 225 | 41 | 248 | 236 | — | — | 4 | — | 18 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 36 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 55 | 107 | 79 | 107 | 107 | 57 | 107 | 46 | 0 | 107 | 55 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 107 | 161 | 54 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Coromandel | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











