Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a proper quiet spell for Whangamata Bar. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing much to write home about, with tiny, weak swells and a whole lot of “poor surf conditions” stamped across the forecast. The first hint of anything rideable doesn’t pop up until Thursday the 30th of July, and even then, it’s just a glimmer.

For the first ten days, from Monday the 20th right through to Wednesday the 29th, you’re looking at flat to tiny waves. Swell heights are barely cracking 2 ft, with periods all over the shop and energy readings that are just sad – we’re talking values like 19, 13, 2, all in the weak category. The wind does swing offshore a few times, especially around the 26th and 27th with a clean WSW breeze, but there’s just no swell to work with. It’s a frustrating wait.

Then, on Thursday the 30th of July, we finally get a little pulse. The morning shows a 3 ft swell from the north, with a period of 6 seconds and the combined energy climbing to 96 (weak). The wind is glassy, which is a big bonus, but the wave comment says it all: “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The afternoon gets messy as the wind swings onshore and the swell jumps to 4 ft, but the period drops to 8 seconds and the energy hits 208 (moderate). It’s not great, but it’s the first real sign of life.

Friday the 31st of July morning is probably your best bet. We’ve got a 3 ft north swell, 9-second period, and a light offshore wind from the WSW. The energy is 162 (moderate). It’s not a classic, and the break is inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for sets, but it’ll be clean and surfable. The afternoon turns a bit lumpy with a cross-off breeze.

After that, it fades again into the first week of August. The 1st and 2nd offer tiny, glassy conditions with swells around 1-2 ft and very long periods (14-15 seconds), but the energy is weak (63-91) and the waves are just too small to get excited about. The long period means those little waves will be more organised, but there’s just not enough push.

So, the standout window is the morning of Friday the 31st of July. It’s not a day to call in sick for, but if you’re jonesing for a paddle, that’s the cleanest, most promising session in the whole 16 days. The water temperature is sitting at 59°F, which is pretty much normal for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

Rusty.

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