
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Estuary surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 17s period, ESE swell with 58 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Estuary over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and settle in, 'cause we’ve got a mixed bag coming our way here at Whangamata Estuary. The next week and a half is pretty much a write-off, but there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel if you’ve got the patience.
Right now, the pattern is flat and disappointing. The swell is tiny through the rest of this week and into the next, with wave heights barely scraping 3 ft, and the period is short and weak. The energy is low – most days we’re looking at combined energy readings of just 20-50, which is basically nothing. For the first few days, the winds are mostly light or cross-off, but it doesn’t matter because the waves are just not there. We’ve got a few glassy mornings on Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th, but the swell is only 0.7 ft, so it’s a lake out there.
Then, from around the 19th of July, the wind kicks in strong from the east and southeast, and it’s onshore or cross-onshore, making for some lumpy, choppy, and frankly messy conditions. By the 22nd, the swell starts to build, but it’s coming with 18-25 mph onshore winds. The water temperature is sitting around 59°F, which is bang on average for the time of year.
The standout isn’t until much later. If you can hold out until Monday, the 27th of July, the whole picture flips. That morning, we’ve got a beautiful moment – glassy, dead calm conditions, with a solid 8 ft swell from the east at a 12-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, with a combined energy of 1574. It’s a big swell, though, so this is strictly for experienced surfers. The wave direction is a little east of the estuary’s optimum, but with zero wind, it’s going to be clean and lined up. Sets will be bigger, with longer gaps, so paddling out won’t be a fight. That Monday morning window is the best on offer. The afternoon on the 27th and Tuesday the 28th still have decent leftovers, with the wind swinging offshore, but the size drops off.
There are long gaps of no surf from now until the 20th, and then it’s blowy and messy for another week. Don’t expect much crowd action here, as it’s inconsistent and rarely breaks well, but if it does come together on the 27th, it could be a quiet session for the few who know.
For the second week, the pattern is simpler: a big, messy northeast swell turns into a cleaner, glassy east swell, but only for that one window. After the 28th, it fades out again.
So, to sum it up: the first 12 days are a bust. The only real standout is the morning of Monday, the 27th of July. Mark it in your calendar.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 13 | E 12 | E 18 | E 17 | ESE 16 | ESE 17 | ESE 15 | E 14 | E 14 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
36 | 27 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 52 | 54 | 22 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 28 | 23 | 12 | 12 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 10:49PM1.91m | 11:17AM1.74m | 11:38PM1.82m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:36PM0.11m | 5:11AM0.12m | 5:26PM0.21m | ||||||||
7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | E 13 | E 12 | N 5 | E 13 | ESE 16 | ESE 17 | ESE 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 |
36 | 27 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 27 | 5 | 13 | 52 | 54 | 22 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | NNE 4 | N 4 | E 13 | E 17 | — | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | N 8 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 |
7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 23 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 18 | N 5 | NE 10 | — | — | N 7 | — | N 8 | N 9 | — | N 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 |
5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 2 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | N 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 2 | SW 2 | — | NW 4 | — | SSW 2 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | — | — | — |
71 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 19 | 28 | 23 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 122 | 106 | 65 | 122 | 236 | 216 | 236 | 113 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 39 | 106 | 106 | 106 | 106 | 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.










