Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Estuary surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period, ESE swell with 52 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whangamata Estuary this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Estuary in the next 16 days are 0.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Estuary over the next 16 days.
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next stretch.
Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow burner. We’re lookin’ at a long, quiet patch with nothin’ really worth paddling out for. From now until around the 22nd of July, it’s pretty flat or just plain messy. There’s a gap of about 8 or 9 days where the surf is just poor. A few tiny 0.7ft to 1.0ft waves creep in, but with all that onshore junk and short periods, it’s a total write-off. Not worth wettin’ a wetsuit.
Then things get real interesting, real fast. On the 22nd of July, the swell jumps up hard. Whangamata Estuary (beach/bar) is gonna see a big 16ft swell from the ENE around mid-day, but the wind is a cross-shore from the South at 12 mph. The combined energy is massive at 11366 (moderate to strong), but it’s a 11-second period swell. That’s a lot of water movin’ around. This is strictly for the experienced crew – 16ft waves are no joke for a beach/bar setup. It’s a bit messy with the cross-chop, so it’s more of a wild, powerful session for the brave.
The real standout, the one that’s got me a little excited, is the morning of Friday, the 24th of July. The swell drops to a much more manageable 8ft from the E, with a lovely 13-second period. The wind is a clean cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph, so the faces are gonna be lookin’ smooth. The water temp is about average for the time of year at 59°, feels like home. The combined energy is still solid at 1843 (moderate). This is the sweet spot – big enough for a proper drop, clean enough to remember why we do this. It’s an inconsistent break, so you’ll get some wait between sets, but that just makes the paddle out easier. Keep an eye on the crowds, they can show up sometimes here.
The days after that ease off nicely. The 25th and 26th of July offer 5ft to 6ft waves from the same E direction, with clean conditions and light offshore or cross-off winds. The energy drops to 864 to 778 (weak to moderate), but the waves are still fun and clean. Good for a longer, cruisy session.
So, the whole story: a long dry spell, one massive, expert-only day for the power-hungry, and then a clear winner on the 24th for the best all-round, clean, solid surf. After that, it’s a nice, mellow fade-out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 13 | E 12 | E 18 | E 17 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | E 14 | ENE 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 41 | 25 | 13 | 14 | 22 | 25 | 37 | 32 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 52 | 42 | 48 | 23 | 15 | 9 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 4:28PM1.78m | 4:45AM1.77m | 5:28PM1.86m | 5:46AM1.81m | 6:27PM1.94m | 6:45AM1.85m | 7:23PM1.99m | 7:42AM1.87m | 8:17PM2.02m | 8:37AM1.86m | 9:09PM2.02m | 9:31AM1.84m | 10:00PM1.98m | 10:25AM1.79m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:40PM0.30m | 11:07AM0.10m | 11:43PM0.24m | 12:06PM0.05m | 00:43AM0.18m | 1:04PM0.01m | 1:41AM0.12m | 1:59PM-0.01m | 2:37AM0.08m | 2:53PM-0.00m | 3:30AM0.07m | 3:45PM0.04m | 4:21AM0.09m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  | | | | |  | |  | | | | |  | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 |
 | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | 5:20 |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | N 6 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | E 13 | E 12 | E 13 | E 12 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | E 14 | ENE 4 |
| kJ | 41 | 25 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 32 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 13 | 28 | 13 | 12 | 52 | 42 | 48 | 23 | 15 | 9 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 11 | NNW 6 | E 11 | E 11 | NNE 4 | N 4 | E 18 | E 17 | NE 10 | E 18 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 13 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 23 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 12 | NE 12 | N 9 | NE 9 | N 11 | E 14 | NE 10 | E 12 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 10 | — | NE 9 | N 7 | N 7 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 5 | NNE 3 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | SW 2 | SE 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | 1 | 22 | 25 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 5 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 106 | 106 | 216 | 231 | 75 | 14 | 65 | 114 | 128 | 114 | 106 | 113 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 106 | 106 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Coromandel | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Whangamata Estuary Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Whangamata Estuary provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whangamata Estuary can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whangamata Estuary 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 Estuary) 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 Estuary 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 Estuary is 56 km (35 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.
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