
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Estuary surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, ESE swell with 264 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period with N 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s 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 1.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Estuary over the next 16 days.
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next 16 days at Whangamata Estuary are a quiet patch. There’s a long stretch of pretty ordinary surf ahead, so keep your expectations in check. The first real chance of something decent doesn’t show up until the morning of Tuesday the 14th of July.
From Thursday the 9th through Monday the 13th of July, it’s mostly poor. We’re looking at small, weak east swell with cross and cross-off winds, some clean windows but no real power. The combined energy sits around 149 to 16, which is weak. Not worth paddling out for.
Tuesday the 14th of July is the standout. The morning brings a jump in swell – 6ft from the north, period around 6 seconds, and combined energy of 394 (moderate). The wind is cross-off from the NNW, 15 km/h, keeping it clean. The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions,” and that’s the best we’ve got. The water temp is 60°, pretty much average for this time of year. Crowds at the Estuary can be around sometimes, but early on a Tuesday should be alright. The break is a beach/bar setup, inconsistent, so don’t expect a constant bank. That north swell is a bit off the optimum direction of ENE, but it’s the only real energy in the window.
After that, Tuesday afternoon drops to 4ft from the NNE, still clean but very ordinary. Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th are tiny again, with glassy conditions but barely any swell – 2ft or less. The combined energy drops to the 20s and 30s.
The second week gets a bit weird. Saturday the 18th of July afternoon has a glassy 4ft from the ENE, period 6 seconds, energy 132 – surfable but ordinary. Sunday the 19th of July morning picks up a bit: 6ft from the ENE, glassy, energy 257, but still just “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” Then Sunday afternoon jumps to 8ft from the NE, onshore wind from the east at 5 km/h, energy 709 – that’s a lot of water but the wind is onshore and the comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” For a beach/bar, that’s probably messy.
Monday the 20th of July is a big one: 15ft to 16ft from the NE, period 10-11 seconds, energy 3970 to 5622 – that’s very strong. But the wind is onshore at 20-25 km/h from the ESE and ENE. The comment says “marginal” and then “poor.” For a beach/bar, that’s more of a kite session than a paddle session. The setup will be blown out and dangerous for beginners. The swell direction is NE, which is a fair match for the optimum ENE, but the wind is the killer.
The rest of the week into the 23rd and 24th of July is back to small, clean conditions but tiny swell – 2ft to 2ft, combined energy under 150. Not worth the wetsuit.
So, to sum it up: the best window is the morning of Tuesday the 14th of July at Whangamata Estuary. That’s your one real shot at a clean, head-high wave with a bit of push. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too big and messy. Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu afternoon, light winds from the S by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | N 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | ENE 5 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
122 | 94 | 94 | 69 | 74 | 188 | 125 | 96 | 44 | 63 | 42 | 25 | 13 | 24 | 44 | 247 | 114 | 63 | 18 | 9 | 8 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:46AM1.81m | 6:27PM1.94m | 6:45AM1.85m | 7:23PM1.99m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:36PM0.38m | 8:10AM0.23m | 8:35PM0.37m | 9:07AM0.20m | 9:37PM0.35m | 10:06AM0.15m | 10:40PM0.30m | 11:07AM0.10m | 11:43PM0.24m | 12:06PM0.05m | 00:43AM0.18m | 1:04PM0.01m | 1:41AM0.12m | ||||||||
7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | |
— | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 11 |
Feels °C | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 |
122 | 94 | 94 | 69 | 35 | 188 | 125 | 96 | 44 | 63 | 42 | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 135 | 114 | 63 | 18 | 9 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 6 | E 10 | N 13 | N 13 | E 6 | NE 8 | N 12 | N 11 | E 12 | NNE 4 | NE 12 | E 5 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | ENE 5 | NNE 5 | N 5 |
24 | 12 | 26 | 15 | 66 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 10 | E 10 | E 9 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
3 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSW 3 | SSE 6 | SSE 3 | — | — | E 4 | SE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | 40 | 68 | 5 | 74 | 4 | — | — | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 24 | 44 | 247 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 59 | 179 | 217 | 51 | 59 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 106 | 106 | 9 | 122 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 106 | 113 | 106 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Coromandel | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










