Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for our local stretch. I’ll be straight with you – the next 16 days are a real mixed bag, and honestly, for the most part, it’s a waiting game. There’s a big gap of quiet, small conditions before we see any real pulse.

The outlook kicks off on Thursday, the 23rd of July, but don’t get your hopes up. The waves are tiny, with a weak 1.0ft swell from the east, and the period is a short 5 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 9, so it’s essentially flat. The water is sitting at 59°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. We’ve got glassy conditions, but with no swell to work with, it’s a total write-off.

Friday, the 24th, is more of the same – small, weak, and not worth a second look. The surf stays poor right through the weekend. Saturday sees a bit of a bump in the wind, with a gusty 19 mph offshore, but the swell is still tiny and messy. It’s a no-go.

We finally get a glimmer of something on Monday, the 27th of July. The conditions are still very ordinary, but the swell period starts to stretch out, hitting 12 seconds by the afternoon. The waves are only 1ft from the ESE, but those longer periods hint at a bit more shape. The combined energy is still weak at 60. It’s surfable, but you’d be scratching for a wave.

This pattern of “surfable but very ordinary” sticks around through Tuesday, Wednesday, and into Thursday, the 30th. The swell stays small, around 1-2ft, but the period stays in that 12-14 second range, which is nice. The winds are often light or glassy, so the surface will be clean. It’s a session for the longboard or a foiler, but not much else.

Now, here’s where it gets a bit more interesting. On Friday, the 31st of July, we see a pulse of new energy. The morning swell jumps to 3ft from the north, with a short 6-second period, and the combined energy climbs to 138. By the afternoon, the swell height hits 5ft from the NNW, still with a short 6-second period, and the energy is up to 342. The wind is offshore early, but swings cross-off in the afternoon. It’s a messy, wind-affected swell, and the tide might be a factor. It’s marginal, but it’s the biggest push we’ve seen.

The standout, and the only real highlight in this whole run, is a smaller window on Wednesday, the 5th of August. The morning brings a solid 5ft swell from the east, with a 7-second period. The combined energy hits 270, which is a moderate, punchy amount of juice. The wind is a clean 9 mph cross-off from the SW. This is the best combo on offer. The waves will be a bit short-period, but that offshore wind will groom it nicely. For the more experienced crew, this is your window. The afternoon gets a bit messy with cross-onshore wind, so get it in the morning. After that, the energy drops back off into the following week, with small, choppy conditions.

So, the call is simple. The first week and a half is a write-off. The pick of the entire 16 days is the morning of Wednesday, the 5th of August. Don’t sleep on it if you’re keen. After that, it’s back to the waiting game.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the horizon.

Rusty.

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