Whangamata Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the pipe for Whangamata Beach. To be honest, the next two weeks are lookin’ pretty flat and quiet. The swell just isn’t there for any kind of proper surf. We’ve got a solid 12-day stretch from Friday the 28th of August right through to Tuesday the 8th of September where it’s all pretty ordinary.

We start off on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th with tiny, weak waves, no more than 2ft to 5ft, and the wind is all wrong – cross-onshore or just plain choppy. The combined swell energy is really low, mostly in the 30 to 180 range (weak to moderate). Just not worth paddlin’ out for.

There is a little window on Sunday the 30th morning. The wind swings offshore from the WSW at 18 mph, and we get a clean 5ft swell from the NNE, period 8 seconds. The energy bumps up a notch (248 – moderate) and the offshore breeze makes it look clean. It’s a beginner-friendly break, so if you’re just starting out and it’s sunny, it could be a fun morning. But it’s nothing to write home about.

After that, from Monday the 31st all the way through to the end of the first week of September, the swell just disappears. We’re talking 0.7ft to 2ft with combined energy often under 100 (weak). The wind turns alright offshore or cross-offshore a lot of the time, but there’s just no push.

Now, late on Sunday the 6th of September, a bit more energy shows up – a 7ft swell from the NNW (period 8 seconds) gives us 861 (strong) combined energy, and the wind goes cross-offshore. The guidance says it’s marginal, with the wave comment calling it questionable. That swell size is enough to make it tricky for beginners, and the period is short, so it won't be the cleanest.

The real standout of the whole period, if you can wait, is Monday the 7th of September morning. We get glassy conditions – that’s near-perfect wind – and a 3ft swell from the north with a period of 7 seconds. Combined energy is 121 (moderate). The glassy wind means clean, smooth faces, and it’s small enough for beginners. That’s your best bet, but even then, it’s a one-morning window.

After that, it’s back to small, clean but weak surf for the second week. Nothing with any grunt.

So, overall, the standout is Monday the 7th of September morning. Glassy conditions, a little 3ft north swell. It’s the only time the stars really line up. Everywhere else, you’re either lookin’ at cross-offshore wind or just no swell. Whangamata Beach is a beginner-friendly spot, fairly consistent, but this run is a dry spell. Expect crowds possible if it’s the only day with anything, since the spot is sometimes busy.

Rusty.

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