Whangamata Bar Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.20° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 03 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Bar sea temperature is
14.8°C
0.3° 

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 3 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, N swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NNW swell with 481 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s 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 (Sep 05) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Bar in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sat 5th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Best Surf12PM (Mon 7th Sep)5ft (1.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 3AM (Mon 7th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve run the numbers for the next couple of weeks, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty bleak run for the Coromandel. We’ve got a 16-day window, and the truth is, there’s nothing here that gets the heart pumping. The first bit of anything remotely surfable doesn’t show up until Monday the 7th of September, and even then, it’s a big "if." Let’s break it down.

The overall pattern is dominated by tiny, anemic swells. For the first few days, we’re looking at flat, poor conditions. The wait feels long. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd? Forget it. Nothing.

We finally see a pulse on Monday the 7th of September at Whangamata Bar. A north swell pushes through, about 4ft (combined energy of 199 – moderate) early, dropping to 4ft (energy of 145) in the arvo. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s not a groundswell – expect a bit of chop. The wind is cross-offshore, which keeps it clean-looking, but the description is "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." That’s about as excited as I can get for this. It’s inconsistent here too, so you’ll be sitting waiting. Water temp is about 59°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, nothing special. If you’re a beginner, that 4ft is on the upper edge of your comfort zone, but the lack of quality makes it a gamble.

Tuesday the 8th of September has a similar story. Morning sees a tiny 2ft north-northeast swell (energy 79 – weak), but the afternoon bump to 3ft from the north with an offshore wind makes it the cleanest option of the two days. Still, it’s only a 7-second period – short and choppy.

That’s pretty much it, folks. After Tuesday the 8th, we slide straight back into junk. From Wednesday the 9th of September all the way through to the end of the forecast on the 18th of September, it’s all under 2ft, with poor surf conditions marked. Swell periods get longer – up to 15 seconds – but with heights that tiny, you’re just looking at a slick ocean. The winds are mostly offshore or cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but there’s nothing to surf on.

So, the standout? If you absolutely *have* to get wet, Monday the 7th of September at Whangamata Bar is the only one worth paddling out for. It’s not a classic by any stretch, but it’s the best of a very quiet bunch. Be mindful of the crowds here – it can get busy, and the spot is inconsistent, so it might be a bit frustrating. If it’s more than 5ft, it’s for the experts, but we’re well under that here, so intermediates can handle it.

Honestly, for a stretch this long with so little on offer, it’s probably a good time to fix a ding, clean the wax off, and hope the next system delivers. Forecasts can change, but right now, this is what we’ve got.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
AM
PM
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
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.8
N
6
0.8
N
7
0.4
N
6
0.2
ENE
11
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.6
N
5
2.1
NNW
7
1.2
N
8
1.1
N
8
0.8
NNE
8
0.7
NNE
8
1
N
7
0.5
NNE
5
0.4
NE
8
0.2
ENE
15
0.4
NE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
10
11
10
10
46
63
13
11
10
9
16
419
196
142
79
58
106
13
21
21
18
Wind (km/h)
15
WNW
15
W
15
WNW
20
WNW
25
NW
15
W
15
WSW
10
WSW
10
WNW
10
NW
20
NNW
25
NNW
15
WNW
15
WSW
0
SE
5
WNW
15
W
15
W
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
W
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
High Tide
10:57AM1.76m
11:14PM1.76m
11:49AM1.74m
00:07AM1.72m
12:46PM1.72m
1:05AM1.68m
1:48PM1.71m
2:09AM1.65m
2:53PM1.72m
3:16AM1.65m
3:57PM1.76m
4:21AM1.68m
4:58PM1.81m
Low Tide
5:11PM0.27m
5:37AM0.18m
6:03PM0.31m
6:30AM0.21m
7:01PM0.34m
7:28AM0.23m
8:03PM0.36m
8:30AM0.25m
9:09PM0.36m
9:34AM0.24m
10:15PM0.32m
10:37AM0.21m
11:16PM0.25m
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:28
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:57
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:00
 mm
1
5
Temp °C
17
18
14
16
15
12
16
17
10
15
16
16
15
15
11
14
16
11
15
16
12
Feels °C
13
14
12
12
11
9
13
13
8
12
12
12
13
11
10
13
13
8
13
12
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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