Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next two weeks at Whangamata Bar are a real mixed bag, and honestly, there’s not a lot to get stoked about. The forecast is mostly a run of poor conditions, with only a few fleeting moments that might be worth a paddle. Don’t expect any epic sessions; this is more about picking the least ordinary windows.

The best of what’s on offer is actually the very start. Saturday, 29th August, kicks off with a bit of hope. The morning session sees a 5ft swell from the north with a short, punchy 6-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 229. The wind is a light 10 km/h cross-off from the NNW, so the surf will be clean. Afternoon gets even better – glassy conditions with a 5 km/h ESE breeze, though the swell drops to 4ft from the NNE at 7 seconds (143 energy). It’s surfable, but it’s not going to blow your mind. The water’s sitting at 59°, which is pretty average for this time of year. This is your best shot all weekend, so if you’re keen, make it Saturday.

Then we hit a big lull. From Sunday, 30th August, all the way through to Friday, 4th September, the surf is labelled “poor” across the board. The wind is up, mostly strong cross-off breezes, and the swell drops to tiny, messy waves. Sunday morning has a 4ft NNE swell but with 35 km/h winds – that’s a write-off. The rest of the week is a flat, blown-out mess. It’s a solid 6-day gap with nothing worth recommending.

There’s a tiny flicker on Friday afternoon, 4th September. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the NNW, but it’s only 6 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at 186. The wind is a moderate 20 km/h offshore from the WNW, so it’ll be clean. The wave comment is “surfable but very ordinary.” It’s not great, but it’s the only other window in the first week.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. From 5th September through to 13th September, the swells are tiny – mostly 0.7ft to 3ft – with short periods and poor scores. The wind is often cross-off or offshore, but there’s just no size to work with. The combined energy rarely hits triple digits, and most of the time it’s well under 100, meaning weak wave energy. The 11th September has a 1ft swell from the NE with a very long 12-second period (69 energy) and offshore wind, but it’s too small to do anything with. That long period would make it a gutless wall at a beach break anyway.

Honestly, this is a tough run. The Bar is inconsistent at the best of times, and this forecast shows why. If you’re a beginner, Saturday’s 4-5ft swell is fine for you, but the rest is too small or too windy. For experts, there’s nothing here that’ll get the heart pumping. If you’re into kiting, those windy days with moderate swell might be more interesting than paddling out.

So, bottom line: Saturday, 29th August is the one day to pin your hopes on. After that, it’s slim pickings until the forecast might change. Keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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