
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Beach surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NNE swell with 342 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period with NNE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whangamata Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Whangamata Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Beach in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. Rusty here, and I gotta tell ya – Whangamata Beach is looking pretty quiet for a good stretch. There’s a long dry spell before anything worth paddling out for shows up.
From Sunday the 13th through Thursday the 17th of September, it’s mostly flat – tiny waves, hardly any energy. You’re looking at ankle-biters with combined swell energy readings in the teens to low 30s – basically a pond. A few glassy moments, but nothing with any push.
Then on Friday the 18th of September, we finally get a pulse. The morning brings a 5ft swell from the NNE, but it’s short-period windswell at 7 seconds, so it’ll be soft and a bit lumpy. Combined energy hits 228 (moderate), so there’s some power. Winds are light cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean. The afternoon goes glassy with a 4ft NNE swell and energy at 172 – that might be your best chance for a session. Still short-period though.
Saturday the 19th of September keeps the hope alive with swell around 3-4ft from the NE, period at 8 seconds. The morning is clean with cross-offshore breeze, and the afternoon gets a solid offshore from the WSW at 15 mph. Combined energy sits at 141-157. That afternoon session looks like a winner – clean offshore winds and chest-high sets.
After that, it fades fast. Sunday the 20th drops to 1ft, and from there through to the 28th of September, it’s back to tiny waves – mostly under 1ft – with low energy and onshore or variable winds. A few glassy moments, but nothing to write home about.
The standout? I’d go with Saturday the 19th afternoon – offshore wind and a 3ft NE swell gives you clean, rideable waves. Friday the 18th afternoon with the glassy conditions is also a solid option.
Crowds can be a factor at Whangamata Beach sometimes, so expect company on those better days. Water temp is around 59°F, which is about average for this time of year.
So yeah – a long flat run, a brief window of fun surf mid-September, then back to small stuff. Forecasts can change, so don’t give up hope.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 13 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
26 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 23 | 22 | 13 | 161 | 220 | 164 | 105 | 154 | 138 | 82 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | glassy | off | off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:18PM1.89m | 8:45AM1.83m | 9:02PM1.85m | 9:29AM1.81m | 9:45PM1.79m | 10:13AM1.76m | 10:28PM1.71m | 10:57AM1.70m | 11:12PM1.63m | 11:43AM1.63m | 11:57PM1.56m | 12:32PM1.57m | 00:46AM1.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:10PM0.13m | 2:37AM0.08m | 2:56PM0.16m | 3:20AM0.11m | 3:41PM0.22m | 4:02AM0.16m | 4:25PM0.28m | 4:45AM0.23m | 5:09PM0.36m | 5:28AM0.31m | 5:54PM0.44m | 6:13AM0.38m | 6:43PM0.50m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | ENE 4 | NE 12 | ENE 11 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 |
26 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 3 | 24 | 12 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 23 | 22 | 13 | 13 | 220 | 164 | 105 | 154 | 138 | 82 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 9 | NE 12 | ENE 4 | ENE 13 | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 | NE 10 | — | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 |
7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 15 | — | N 14 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 4 | NE 13 | E 8 | E 8 | — | N 11 | — | — | — | E 11 | E 13 | E 12 | — | — | — |
4 | — | 4 | — | 6 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | — | N 3 | N 3 | NNE 6 | — | — | — | WSW 2 | W 3 | WSW 3 |
5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 6 | 161 | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 77 | 207 | 180 | 159 | 207 | 118 | 106 | 241 | 217 | 237 | 237 | 230 | 237 | 238 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Coromandel | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Whangamata Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Whangamata Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whangamata Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whangamata Beach 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 Beach) 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 Beach 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 Beach is 58 km (36 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.










