Whangamata Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty flat and sad. The first surfable day doesn't roll around until Monday, August 10th, and even then it’s a real struggle to get excited. We’ve got a solid 3-day gap with no surf at all before that, just tiny dribbles of 0.3ft swell with no energy.

Monday, August 10th is the first time we see anything rideable, but it’s nothing to write home about. Whangamata Beach will have a small 4ft swell from the North, with a short period of 8 seconds. The wind is light and cross-off from the W/SW, keeping the surface clean. The swell energy is sitting at a moderate 179, so there’s a little push, but the waves will be pretty ordinary. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Tuesday, August 11th is a write-off – messy onshore winds and tiny swell. You’d be better off cleaning your board.

Wednesday, August 12th is actually the pick of the bunch. Whangamata Beach gets a 4ft swell from the NNE (8 sec period), with a light offshore wind from the SSW in the morning. It’s clean, the energy is moderate at 189, and that offshore breeze will hold the waves up nicely. Crowds are sometimes a factor here, so you might have a few others with the same idea. It’s not a big swell, but it’s the best quality we’ll see in this window.

Thursday, August 13th starts with a glassy morning – perfect for a paddle – but the swell is only 3ft and dropping.

Then things get ugly. Friday, August 14th sees a big jump in size – 7ft to 7ft from the N/NNE – but it’s blown out by strong onshore winds. The energy is pumping (642 to 1155), but the waves will be a messy, lumpy beast. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session. The water’s gonna be all over the place.

After that, the swell drops off a cliff. From Saturday, August 15th right through to the end of the 16-day window, we’re looking at tiny waves under 3ft, mostly with poor cross-shore or cross-onshore winds. There’s a brief glassy moment on Wednesday, August 19th and Thursday, August 20th in the mornings, but the swell is practically non-existent – 0.7ft – so not worth paddling out for.

So, here’s the bottom line: if you can get out on Wednesday, August 12th for the morning session, that’s your best bet. It’s not a world-class day, but it’s the only time the stars align for a clean, rideable wave. The rest of the forecast is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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