
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Bar surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NE swell with 386 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period with ENE 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 15) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Bar in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Bar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, grab a coffee and settle in, 'cause I’ve had a proper look at the next 16 days for Whangamata Bar, and I’ll be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a real long dry spell at the start, with no decent surf for nearly a week and a half. From the 12th of August right through to the morning of the 23rd, the conditions are just rubbish. Onshore winds, small, weak swell, and a lot of "poor surf conditions" flags. There’s a couple of moments where the wind drops to glassy, like Saturday afternoon the 15th, but the swell is only 4ft from the ENE with a short 8-second period and weak energy (144). It’s surfable, but you’d be scratching for a fun one. It’s not worth making a special trip for.
The real story starts to turn around the 23rd of August. Sunday morning the 23rd finally sees a clean offshore breeze from the west, with a 1ft NE swell and a 11-second period. It’s tiny, but it’s a sign of life. Then Monday the 24th morning is the first proper standout. We get a clean 3ft NE swell, 9-second period, with light offshore winds from the southwest. The wave energy is moderate (132), and it’s clean. This is our best window. The water temp is about 59°F – pretty average for this time of year, nothing wild.
Tuesday the 25th morning is another good one – glassy conditions, 3ft NE swell, and 9-second period. The energy is a bit stronger (138), and it’ll be super clean. Wednesday the 26th morning also looks promising with a clean 3ft ENE swell, 9-second period, light offshore from the west, and energy building to 179. The swell direction is a good match for the optimum NE direction.
So, the standout is Monday the 24th of August morning. Head down then for clean, small waves at Whangamata Bar. It’s inconsistent, so don’t expect a packed session, but the few that roll through will be worth it. Tuesday the 25th morning is a close second. After that, the swell sticks around but the wind gets a bit messy again. There’s a chance of a storm on the 27th, so keep an eye on it, but for now, pencil in the 24th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
220 | 188 | 257 | 321 | 153 | 135 | 88 | 85 | 150 | 134 | 138 | 138 | 227 | 151 | 53 | 22 | 31 | 20 | 27 | 24 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 6:11PM1.90m | 6:31AM1.80m | 7:05PM1.96m | 7:27AM1.83m | 7:56PM1.98m | 8:19AM1.85m | 8:45PM1.97m | 9:10AM1.84m | 9:32PM1.93m | 9:59AM1.80m | 10:18PM1.86m | 10:46AM1.75m | 11:03PM1.77m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:51AM0.10m | 00:29AM0.19m | 12:48PM0.06m | 1:25AM0.12m | 1:41PM0.04m | 2:17AM0.08m | 2:32PM0.05m | 3:06AM0.06m | 3:21PM0.09m | 3:52AM0.08m | 4:09PM0.16m | 4:38AM0.13m | 4:56PM0.24m | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | |
mm | — | 3 | 18 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 12 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | — | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 5 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 |
3 | 188 | 257 | — | 153 | 135 | 88 | 85 | 150 | 134 | 138 | 138 | 227 | 151 | 23 | 20 | 31 | 20 | 27 | 24 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 12 | E 14 | N 11 | ESE 6 | E 16 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 12 | — | — | — | ENE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 |
— | 3 | 4 | 3 | 33 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 53 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 13 | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | NE 8 | — | E 13 | E 12 | — | — | — | NE 12 | N 12 | — | N 11 | E 10 | — | N 9 |
— | — | — | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | NE 7 | ESE 5 | — | SSE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | SSW 2 | — |
220 | 96 | 88 | 321 | 46 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 21 | 31 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 79 | 110 | 110 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 67 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 60 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 186 | 107 | 116 | 107 |
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.











