Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Bar surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, NE swell with 44 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whangamata Bar this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Bar in the next 16 days are 0.4m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are a bit of a struggle for Whangamata Bar. It’s a beach-and-bar setup that’s ordinarily fairly exposed to swell, but we’re looking at a long, drawn-out lull with hardly any push.
From now through to Saturday, the 19th of September, it’s a real bust. We’ve got tiny 0.7ft to 1ft waves from the NE, with periods around 12 to 13 seconds, but the combined energy is barely registering, sitting between 13 and 64 – that’s weak stuff. Winds are mostly cross-off or offshore, so it’s clean enough, but there’s just no power to work with. The water temp is about 59°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year.
Then from the 20th of September, we finally see a tiny bump. Sunday the 20th morning brings glassy conditions with a 2ft NE swell at 8 seconds, and by the afternoon it builds to 3ft from the NNE, also 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 132 (moderate), but the period is short, so the waves will be a bit weak and chunky. It’s still surfable, but very ordinary. The wind goes glassy in the morning and stays light in the arvo – that’s the cleanest window we get.
Monday the 21st gets messy with a cross-shore and then cross-onshore wind, chopping it up. A few days after that, Tuesday the 22nd offers another clean morning with a light offshore and 2ft from the NE at 9 seconds, but the energy is still low at 89. Again, surfable but nothing to get excited about.
After the 23rd of September, it fades back to flatness with 0.3ft to 1.0ft waves, and the combined energy drops into the single digits. By the 27th, we’re looking at 0.3ft and only 5 to 6 units of energy – basically a lake.
The standout, if you can call it that, is Saturday the 20th of September afternoon. That 3ft swell from the NNE, combined with glassy wind, will give the cleanest waves of the entire period. It’s not big, but it’s the most you’ll get. Whangamata Bar is inconsistent at the best of times, and this stretch shows exactly why. For beginners, this tiny stuff is safe, but there’s nothing here for anyone wanting a proper wave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat night, calm by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 13 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 26 | 44 | 44 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 23 | 22 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 18 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:32PM1.91m | 7:58AM1.83m | 8:18PM1.89m | 8:45AM1.83m | 9:02PM1.85m | 9:29AM1.81m | 9:45PM1.79m | 10:13AM1.76m | 10:28PM1.71m | 10:57AM1.70m | 11:12PM1.63m | 11:43AM1.63m | 11:57PM1.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:22PM0.12m | 1:52AM0.09m | 2:10PM0.13m | 2:37AM0.08m | 2:56PM0.16m | 3:20AM0.11m | 3:41PM0.22m | 4:02AM0.16m | 4:25PM0.28m | 4:45AM0.23m | 5:09PM0.36m | 5:28AM0.31m | 5:54PM0.44m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  |  |  | |  | |
 | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 11 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 |
| kJ | 20 | 15 | 44 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 12 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 23 | 22 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 13 | NE 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 4 | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | — | E 8 | NE 10 | — | — | — | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 |
| kJ | 26 | 44 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 16 | NE 12 | N 16 | E 16 | — | N 14 | E 15 | E 9 | E 8 | ENE 13 | NE 13 | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | E 10 | — | N 10 | — | E 12 | — |
| kJ | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | — | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 7 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 56 | 18 | 18 | 78 | 186 | 180 | 161 | 206 | 180 | 206 | 206 | 237 | 225 | 237 | 161 | 124 | 237 | 107 | 107 | 107 | 107 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Coromandel | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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