Whangamata Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Look, I'm gonna level with ya – the next couple of weeks at Whangamata Beach are a real mixed bag, and honestly, mostly a flat, quiet one. We've got a long stretch of nothing much to really get excited about, but there's a little flicker of hope right at the end.

First up, the water's sitting at 59°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a write-off. From Monday the 27th of July right through to Thursday the 30th, we're looking at tiny, weak dribble – swell heights around 1ft to 1.6ft from the ESE/E. The wave energy is barely registering (58 to 91), and while the early mornings are glassy, the waves are just too small to bother with. It's "poor surf conditions" all the way.

Then Friday the 31st of July throws a bit of a curveball. The swell bumps up to 4.9ft from the NNW, but it's got a short, choppy 7-second period. The wave energy jumps to 366 (moderate), which sounds promising, but it's a messy, wind-affected swell with a moderate cross-offshore breeze. It's more of a miss than a hit.

From Saturday the 1st of August, we hit a real quiet patch. For the next six days, the swell drops right back to 0.7ft or 0.3ft. The energy is pitiful (18 to 27), and even though the winds are offshore or glassy, there's just no wave to ride. It's a proper lull. On Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th, we're down to 0.3ft with a super long 19-second period, but with no height, it's a flat calm.

Now, the end of the run gets interesting. On Friday the 7th of August, a short-period swell (6 seconds) shows up from the ENE at 5.2ft to 5.6ft, with the energy at 244 (moderate). But the wind is a light cross-onshore, keeping it messy. The following days, the 8th and 9th, see more onshore winds and rain, with the swell building to 5.9ft on Sunday the 9th (energy 463 – moderate to strong), but it's wind-ravaged and poor.

The one standout that has me perking up is Tuesday the 11th of August. The morning starts with a clean 4.3ft from the NE (period 8 seconds) and a gentle offshore from the WSW. The energy is 233 (moderate). Then the afternoon looks even better: 4.6ft from the NE, period 9 seconds, with a clean cross-offshore breeze from the WNW. The energy jumps to 371 (moderate), and the forecast says "expect good surf conditions." This is the one to circle on your calendar. The swell is a bit much for beginners at over 4.9ft on the morning, but by the afternoon it's a solid, clean wave for the experienced crew. The break is fairly consistent, and the offshore wind is a massive plus. It's a genuine chance to get a proper session in after a long, quiet spell.

Bottom line: you're waiting a long time, but the 11th of August afternoon is the real deal. The rest is a lot of waiting around.

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