
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Bar surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, N swell with 418 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Bar in the next 16 days are 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 3PM. 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, listen up. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for the Whangamata Bar (Whangamata) for the next couple of weeks. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, the start of this outlook is a proper drought. We’ve got a solid stretch of nothing but tiny, messy slop on the cards. The water temp is sitting around 59°F, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so the rubber’s gonna be fine.
From this Sunday the 6th right through to Thursday the 10th, it’s a write-off. We’re talking ankle-biters and knee-high dribble, with swell energy readings down in the low double digits. The odd light cross-off breeze will keep the surface tidy, but there’s just nothing moving. You’d be better off fixing a ding or waxing a board for later.
We get a little pulse of energy on Monday the 7th as that NNE swell fills in, but it’s junky, short-period stuff mixing with the wind. By Tuesday the 8th, the swell eases back to a pathetic 3 feet and the conditions are just ordinary. The gap stretches out, and we chew through several more days of flatness all the way to Wednesday the 16th. The swell energy barely gets into triple figures and the period is way too short to do anything with.
There is a glimmer of hope on Friday the 18th. That NNW swell pushes up to 10 feet by the afternoon with a building energy, but it's showing as cross-off and the period is a short 9 seconds. It’s gonna be lumpy and hard to manage, likely breaking all over the place. That’s expert territory if you’re keen, but it won't be pretty.
The weekend that follows, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, is a complete no-go for paddling. Swell stays big, between 7 and 8 feet, but we’ve got strong cross-onshore winds, rain, and a proper mess on our hands. Energy readings are huge, but it’s all being chopped up. Honestly, that looks far more interesting for the kite crew than us surfers.
So, for the standout in this whole 16-day run, you’re looking at Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got. The swell drops to a more manageable 5 to 6 feet from the ENE, with a long-period 12-13 second groundswell. The wind swings offshore and clean, so the Bar should actually hold shape. The energy is still strong, but the conditions are vastly better than the weekend chaos. It’s gonna be inconsistent, as the Bar often is, but get out there. That’s your window.
Don’t hold your breath on the rest of that second week. It fades back down, and the energy drops off.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | N 6 | N 7 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 5 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
9 | 8 | 41 | 153 | 418 | 94 | 107 | 85 | 31 | 11 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 47 | 44 | 44 | 43 | 27 | 17 | 17 | 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 | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:48PM1.71m | 2:09AM1.65m | 2:53PM1.72m | 3:16AM1.65m | 3:57PM1.76m | 4:21AM1.68m | 4:58PM1.81m | 5:22AM1.72m | 5:53PM1.86m | 6:18AM1.77m | 6:44PM1.90m | 7:10AM1.81m | 7:32PM1.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:03PM0.36m | 8:30AM0.25m | 9:09PM0.36m | 9:34AM0.24m | 10:15PM0.32m | 10:37AM0.21m | 11:16PM0.25m | 11:36AM0.17m | 00:13AM0.18m | 12:31PM0.14m | 1:04AM0.12m | 1:22PM0.12m | 1:52AM0.09m | ||||||||
6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | N 6 | NE 9 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | ESE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | N 6 | N 8 | NE 13 | NE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 14 |
9 | 8 | 41 | 3 | 247 | 94 | 107 | 85 | 31 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 33 | 11 | 43 | 27 | 17 | 17 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 9 | — | E 9 | E 9 | NE 16 | NE 16 | NE 17 | NE 7 | NNE 6 | ENE 4 | ENE 14 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 16 | N 7 | S 6 |
— | — | 9 | — | 2 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 47 | 44 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 18 | E 16 | E 10 | — | E 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 14 | ENE 4 | NE 15 | ENE 9 | NE 13 | N 8 | NE 13 | N 6 | S 6 | N 9 |
— | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 2 | — | 4 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | N 7 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | ENE 5 | — | — | NW 5 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 |
— | 3 | 113 | 153 | 418 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 20 | — | — | 5 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 29 | 14 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 242 | 242 | 242 | 124 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 67 | 67 | 54 | 6 | 184 | 2 | 0 | 78 | 127 | 246 | 237 | 216 |
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.










