
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Estuary surf forecast from 6 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, ESE swell with 515 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whangamata Estuary this week:
The surf forecast for Whangamata Estuary over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Estuary in the next 16 days are 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Estuary over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a flat, quiet start and a long wait ahead for anything worth paddling out for.
Overall, we’re looking at a pretty bleak stretch for Whangamata Estuary. The next solid week and a half is dominated by weak, small swell and a lot of onshore or cross-shore wind. There’s a very small window of clean, rideable conditions mid-week, but it’s not going to get the heart pumping. For a spot that’s already inconsistent, this is a rough run. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
The first real chance to grab anything decent is Wednesday, July 8th. The morning shows a 6 ft swell from the NE with a period of 8 seconds and clean, cross-offshore winds from the SSW. The combined energy is moderate (490), so there’s some push there, but it’s a short-period wind swell, so expect it to be a bit lumpy and disorganised. It’s not big, only 6 ft, so manageable for a wide range of surfers. The afternoon cleans up further with a light WSW breeze, but the swell drops to 4 ft and swings east. It’s surfable, but unremarkable.
Thursday, July 9th, is your best bet if you’re desperate. The morning has that same clean cross-off wind and a long-period signal (10 seconds) from the east, but the swell is tiny at 3 ft and the energy is weak (172). It’s a clean knee-high dribbler – good for a longboard or a learner session, but nothing to write home about.
After that, it’s a disaster. From Friday, July 10th, all the way through to Tuesday, July 22nd, conditions are almost entirely poor. We’re talking swell heights dropping to 1 ft to 2 ft, combined energy under 100, and persistent onshore or cross-shore winds. There are a couple of glassy days on July 12th and 13th, but with zero swell (1 ft or less), it’s a lake.
There is a big spike on the very last day, Wednesday, July 22nd. The forecast shows a steep 10 ft NE swell with a period of 11 seconds and very strong energy (2251). But the wind is a cross-onshore NNE breeze at 12 mph, creating choppy, messy conditions. That much swell with dirty wind makes it a raw, challenging day for experts only, and honestly, it looks way more appealing for kite surfers than paddle surfers. It’s a long way out, so take that with a grain of salt, but it’s the only sign of life in the whole 16-day window.
To sum it up: if you want a wave, your only real shot is the Wednesday and Thursday of the first week for some clean but small surf. Otherwise, get ready for a long, flat spell. The crowds at Whangamata Estuary can be a factor sometimes, but I doubt anyone will be out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 6°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Mon 13 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
142 | 105 | 283 | 388 | 361 | 228 | 156 | 122 | 122 | 98 | 71 | 68 | 64 | 73 | 100 | 67 | 61 | 41 | 25 | 25 | 24 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 11:19PM1.70m | 11:44AM1.56m | 00:03AM1.70m | 12:34PM1.58m | 00:51AM1.69m | 1:29PM1.61m | 1:44AM1.70m | 2:27PM1.65m | 2:43AM1.71m | 3:27PM1.71m | 3:44AM1.74m | 4:28PM1.78m | 4:45AM1.77m | 5:28PM1.86m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:44AM0.32m | 5:54PM0.36m | 6:29AM0.29m | 6:43PM0.38m | 7:17AM0.27m | 7:36PM0.38m | 8:10AM0.23m | 8:35PM0.37m | 9:07AM0.20m | 9:37PM0.35m | 10:06AM0.15m | 10:40PM0.30m | 11:07AM0.10m | ||||||||
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | |
— | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | |
mm | 8 | 8 | 4 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | NE 7 | E 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
142 | 105 | 71 | 388 | 361 | 175 | 156 | 122 | 122 | 98 | 71 | 68 | 64 | 73 | 100 | 67 | 61 | 41 | 25 | 25 | 24 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | N 8 | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SE 5 | N 13 | N 13 | N 13 | N 12 | — | N 12 | N 10 | N 10 | NE 12 | NE 12 |
137 | 72 | — | 76 | 128 | 228 | 76 | 37 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | E 9 | — | E 12 | — | — | — | NE 9 | — | — | NE 7 | — | — | — | N 8 | — | N 12 | — | E 12 | N 10 | — |
43 | 76 | — | 45 | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | — | NE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 4 | — | — | — | SE 4 | S 3 | SSW 3 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | — |
94 | — | 283 | 355 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 106 | 106 | 106 | 106 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 59 | 106 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 106 | 106 | 113 |
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.











