Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Bar surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, NNE swell with 199 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s 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 (Aug 29) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 5s is also forecast. 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 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Whangamata Bar.
Gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window is a tough one. There’s a long, long stretch of nothing to get excited about right from the start. The first couple of days are flat with that tiny 0.3ft NE windswell, and it’s just sad. That flatness drags on through the end of August.
It’s not until Friday the 28th that we see a pulse, but even then it’s weak – 3ft from the ENE with only 39 units of energy (weak) and a short period of 5 seconds. Winds are cross-off from the NNW, so clean but gutless. Still, it’s the first sign of life. Saturday the 29th morning sees a bump to 4ft from the north, period lifting to 6 seconds, and energy jumps to 192 (moderate). The morning is clean with a NNW cross-off, but by afternoon the northerly wind swings onshore and brings rain. Sunday the 30th is actually the pick of the bunch: 4ft NE swell at 7 seconds, with a clean offshore WSW breeze all day. Energy is 144 (moderate). It’s nothing epic, but for this run it’s about as good as it gets – clean, small, and rideable for the intermediates. Just mind that it is inconsistent here, so don’t expect a set every minute.
Then we drop off again. From Monday the 31st through to Wednesday the 9th of September, the swell collapses back to 2ft or less. There’s a moment of glass calm on Friday the 4th of September morning, but with no swell to speak of. The second week is a write-off – tiny dribbles from the ENE, poor onshore winds, and energy readings in the teens. Not worth paddling out for.
So if you’re keen, your window is Saturday 29th to Sunday 30th of August. Saturday morning for the biggest size (4ft, north), but Sunday with that offshore wind will actually be cleaner on the 4ft NE swell. After that, it’s back to waiting.
Stay patient. It tends not to stay poor for long around here.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 11 | E 12 | E 11 | N 13 | N 13 | N 12 | NE 10 | N 12 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | N 5 | NNE 5 | N 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 33 | 24 | 36 | 119 | 199 | 153 | 112 | 99 | 101 | 60 | 54 | 54 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:48PM1.55m | 5:00AM1.49m | 5:35PM1.60m | 5:49AM1.53m | 6:19PM1.66m | 6:34AM1.58m | 7:01PM1.72m | 7:18AM1.63m | 7:41PM1.77m | 8:00AM1.68m | 8:20PM1.80m | 8:42AM1.72m | 9:00PM1.82m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:22AM0.43m | 10:57PM0.52m | 11:13AM0.39m | 11:47PM0.46m | 12:01PM0.34m | 00:34AM0.39m | 12:46PM0.29m | 1:18AM0.32m | 1:29PM0.25m | 1:59AM0.25m | 2:12PM0.23m | 2:40AM0.20m | 2:54PM0.22m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 7 | 2 | 58 | 199 | 153 | 112 | 99 | 101 | 60 | 54 | 54 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 12 | — | N 13 | N 13 | — | — | — | — | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 7 | E 6 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 8 | NW 4 | S 6 | SE 6 | SE 4 |
2 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 44 | 45 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 11 | E 12 | N 13 | N 12 | E 10 | N 12 | — | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | — | E 9 |
— | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 5 | NNW 3 | N 5 | NNE 5 | N 6 | — | — | WSW 2 | — | W 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 7 | 24 | 36 | 119 | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 242 | 242 | 242 | 237 | 237 | 242 | 116 | 107 | 107 | 31 | 134 | 6 | 0 | 107 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 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.











