Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Bar surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, N swell with 295 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m 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 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's get into it. The Whangamata Bar is the spot on the menu here, and for the most part, it's going to be a bit of a patience game. The start of the period is dead flat, with barely a ripple moving through until we get into the weekend.
The first bit of real hope shows up around Saturday the 29th of August. This is where the numbers start to get a little more interesting. A solid 6ft of swell has built up out of the north, but there's a lot of energy behind it, clocking in (456) on the energy scale. That's a fair bit of power, but the period is short at 7 seconds and the wind is cross-offshore, so it's going to be a bit of a lumpy, fat wave. Not the cleanest, but it's the biggest thing we've got in the first week. For the intermediate crowd, this is your window if you're keen; anything more and it'd be getting tricky.
We then go into a quiet spell through the start of September, with smaller, cleaner but pretty ordinary waves in the 2ft to 3ft range. It's surfable, just not setting the world on fire.
The standout, the one you really want to mark on your calendar, is Monday the 7th of September. That morning is looking prime. We've got a lovely 7ft north swell, with the energy absolutely thumping in at (797) – that's strong. The wind is light offshore from the west-southwest, and the period is a reasonable 7 seconds. That combination should give some hefty, clean lines peeling down the bar. This is expert territory for sure, way too much punch for beginners. The best session of the outlook is that Monday morning.
The next day, Tuesday the 8th of September morning, also looks really good. It's a touch smaller at 6ft but still packing moderate energy (489) and the wind is glassy calm from the west-northwest. That'll be absolutely silky clean and a more manageable size for strong intermediates who want to step up.
Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild going on there.
So, to sum it up: there's a long quiet spell to start, a wonky but sizeable pulse on the 29th, and then a true winner of a morning on Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th. The Bar is inconsistent at the best of times, but when it fires, it's worth the wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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 | NE 11 | E 12 | E 11 | N 13 | N 13 | N 12 | NE 10 | N 12 | NE 10 | E 5 | N 4 | N 5 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 32 | 295 | 172 | 91 | 88 | 68 | 35 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:08AM1.46m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:02PM0.56m | 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 | ||||||
— | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 6 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 5 | E 4 | NE 9 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 8 |
3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 161 | 172 | 91 | 88 | 68 | 35 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | N 13 | — | — | — | E 10 | NE 7 | NE 10 | NE 9 | E 5 | — | E 6 | ENE 11 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NNE 7 |
5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 12 | 31 | 32 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | — | E 12 | E 11 | E 12 | N 13 | N 12 | E 10 | N 12 | — | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | — | — | NNE 8 | NW 4 | — | — |
3 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NNW 4 | N 4 | N 5 | N 7 | — | — | W 2 | WSW 2 | W 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 14 | 32 | 295 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 216 | 242 | 242 | 242 | 237 | 237 | 237 | 161 | 124 | 110 | 230 | 237 | 6 | 116 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 23 |
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.











