
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Bar surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, N swell with 189 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period with NNW 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s is also forecast. 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 1.4m 7s 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 1.1m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here.
Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you. For the next week and a half, Whangamata Bar is pretty much asleep. We’ve got nearly two weeks staring us in the face with hardly a ripple worth paddling for. It’s a frustrating run, especially for a spot that can fire.
The first real chance of anything doesn’t show up until Tuesday the 8th of September. Tuesday morning we see a clean 3ft swell from the NNE, with a gentle offshore breeze. The combined energy is only moderate at 138, but it’s clean and surfable. Tuesday afternoon hangs in there with the same 3ft from the north, still clean. Wednesday the 9th is much smaller at 2ft, and it’s ordinary at best. After that, it’s back to tiny, weak stuff for days.
The real standout – and I mean the only time this place looks proper – is on Friday the 18th of September. Friday morning serves up a solid 8ft groundswell from the north, with a clean offshore wind. The combined wave energy is very strong at 720, and the swell period is a long 8 seconds. That’s a powerful, clean, expert-only day. The afternoon swells a touch bigger at 8ft, but the wind swings cross-offshore and the quality drops.
Whangamata Bar is a beach-and-bar setup that’s inconsistent, so a blank run like this is actually pretty normal for the area. Water temp is around 59° – about average for this time of year. When the surf does show, crowds are possible, but on a Tuesday and Friday, you might get a decent look at it.
Hang in there. The forecast can always shift.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | N 5 | N 6 | N 7 | N 8 | NNE 8 | N 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | ENE 15 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
10 | 47 | 44 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 50 | 189 | 153 | 133 | 121 | 73 | 37 | 21 | 29 | 34 | 31 | 43 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:22AM1.72m | 5:53PM1.86m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:36AM0.17m | 00:13AM0.18m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | |
mm | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 11 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | N 7 | N 7 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | N 7 | N 8 | NNE 8 | N 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 6 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 |
10 | 10 | 44 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 189 | 153 | 133 | 121 | 73 | 37 | 21 | 29 | 34 | 31 | 33 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | E 15 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | N 6 | N 5 | — | — | NE 8 | — | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 16 | NE 16 | NE 17 | ENE 15 | ENE 8 | N 6 | ENE 14 | NE 14 | NE 13 |
2 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 8 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 29 | 43 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 18 | E 16 | — | NE 16 | E 14 | — | ENE 15 | ENE 14 | N 6 | ENE 9 | NNW 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | — | 10 | 4 | — | 21 | 18 | 1 | 8 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | N 5 | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | WNW 3 |
16 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 11 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 237 | 237 | 0 | 127 | 268 | 242 | 242 | 242 | 230 | 246 | 246 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Coromandel | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










