Whangamata Estuary Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.23° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Estuary Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 28 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Estuary sea temperature is
15.1° C
0.2° 

Whangamata Estuary surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Whangamata Estuary surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, NNW swell with 230 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period with E 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 29) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Estuary in the next 16 days are 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Wed 29th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 13s
Best Surf 6AM (Fri 31st Jul)5ft (1.6m) 7s
Most Powerful 6AM (Fri 31st Jul)5ft (1.6m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Estuary over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for us. Straight up, the next week and a half is a real test of patience. We’ve got a long dry spell before any decent swell shows up, so don’t be in a rush to grab your board.

The first real chance of anything worthwhile doesn’t come until the 8th of August, and even then it’s a mixed bag. For the first 10 days, from the 28th of July onwards, it’s pretty much a write-off. Tiny waves, poor conditions, and a lot of cross-shore and onshore wind. You’ll see a bit of a bump on the 31st of July with a 1.0m (3ft) northerly and a clean offshore wind, but the period is short at 7 seconds, so it’s not going to be anything special. The combined energy is only moderate at 174. Not worth getting wet for.

Then there's a big gap. Absolutely nothing worth paddling out for from the 1st of August through the 7th of August. That’s a full week of flat or messy junk. The swell is tiny, the wind is all over the place, and the combined energy is weak, often under 100. Stay home.

Now, mark your calendar for the 8th of August. That Saturday morning, things finally kick off. Whangamata Estuary is the only spot on the radar, and it’s got a solid 3.0m (10ft) swell from the ENE, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is a very strong 1274, so there’s plenty of power. Wind is a light SSW cross-off, which should keep the surface clean. This is legitimately big surf – way too big for beginners – and with that short period, it’s going to be a bit walled-up and heavy. The water temp is sitting at 15° (59°F), which is about average for this time of year. This is the standout of the whole forecast, but it’s a big, raw, expert-only wave. The swell direction is ENE, and that’s the optimum direction for this break, so it should be wrapping in nicely. However, this spot is a beach/bar setup and can be inconsistent, so don’t expect it to be firing every set. Also, expect crowds to be possible.

The following morning, the 9th, drops right back down to 1.3m (4ft) with onshore wind, so the window is tight. The 11th and 12th of August look better for a more manageable size. The 11th has a clean 1.0m (3ft) easterly, glassy both morning and afternoon, with combined energy around 300. That’s a much more friendly size for a broader range of surfers. The 12th morning is also worth a look, with 1.5m (5ft) from the ENE, a 10-second period, and glassy conditions. That’s a really nice combo of clean, lined-up waves. The energy is strong at 584. This is your second best bet – a proper, fun day.

So, to wrap it up: the 8th of August is the big, heavy standout for the brave, but the 11th and 12th are the ones for a good, clean, fun session. Don't bother with the rest.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri afternoon, min 3°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ESE
13
0.4
ESE
13
0.5
E
13
0.5
E
13
0.5
E
12
0.5
E
12
0.5
E
12
1
N
6
1
N
7
0.5
E
11
0.4
ESE
11
0.3
E
12
0.3
E
13
0.2
ENE
15
0.2
ENE
16
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
59
58
87
85
76
72
72
71
91
64
41
28
29
23
24
20
19
16
17
16
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
15
SE
5
SSE
5
NE
5
WNW
5
NW
20
NNW
20
NNW
15
WNW
25
W
20
W
15
W
25
SSE
15
SW
15
SW
25
SW
10
WSW
10
WSW
15
WSW
15
WSW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
High Tide
6:07PM1.61m
6:17AM1.55m
6:51PM1.66m
7:02AM1.57m
7:33PM1.70m
7:45AM1.60m
8:13PM1.74m
8:27AM1.62m
8:52PM1.76m
9:08AM1.63m
9:30PM1.77m
9:50AM1.64m
10:09PM1.77m
Low Tide
00:17AM0.48m
12:32PM0.33m
1:04AM0.43m
1:16PM0.29m
1:48AM0.38m
1:58PM0.26m
2:31AM0.33m
2:40PM0.25m
3:12AM0.29m
3:20PM0.25m
3:52AM0.26m
4:01PM0.27m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:18
7:16
7:16
7:15
7:13
7:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:25
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
 mm
2
4
Temp °C
10
9
11
12
11
15
15
13
14
13
10
11
7
5
10
12
7
10
13
10
Feels °C
7
5
9
10
9
11
11
9
10
8
5
8
1
0
4
6
2
6
9
7
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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