Whangamata Estuary Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.23° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Estuary Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 03 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Estuary sea temperature is
14.6° 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 3 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, NNW swell with 198 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period with SSE 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 (Aug 05) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s 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 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Wed 5th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 5s
Best Surf12AM (Sun 9th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 7s
Most Powerful12AM (Sun 9th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 7s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s talk Whangamata Estuary (New Zealand). It’s a slow start, no doubt. The first week is mostly flat, with swells around 0.3 ft to 0.7 ft. The wave energy is in the single digits and low teens, like 29 (03 August Monday morning) and 8 (06 August). That’s just a lake. Water temp is about 58°, standard for the time of year.

There’s a little bump on Sunday, 09 August. We get a 3 ft swell from the north at 8 seconds, with moderate energy of 117. The wind is light and cross-offshore in the morning, so it’s clean. Not great, but surfable. Afternoon goes glassy but the swell drops to 2 ft and energy falls to 58, so morning is your window.

Then a gap from Monday 10 August through Thursday 13 August. Small swell, onshore winds, some rain and thunderstorms. The energy stays low (20s to 40s). Not worth paddling out.

Now the real standout: Friday 14 August. Morning has 6 ft from the north-northeast at 6 seconds, energy of 208 (moderate). Clean with light offshore wind. But the afternoon is the big one: 10 ft from the north at 8 seconds, with a massive energy of 1857 (strong to very strong). That’s a powerful, expert-only swell. The wind is gentle cross-offshore, so it should be clean. Mark that afternoon.

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August have leftover swell around 3 ft to 4 ft, with moderate energy in the 100s. It’s surfable but ordinary. The wind stays clean, so you can get a session, but it won’t be as big as Friday.

The last few days, Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August, drop back to tiny 1 ft to 2 ft swells with weak energy. Offshore wind keeps it clean, but there’s just no wave.

Overall, the whole 16 days is pretty lean except for that Friday 14 August afternoon. That’s your one standout for experienced surfers. The break is inconsistent, so a quiet run like this is normal here. Keep your eyes on the forecast, but I’d be planning around that Friday.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 4°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue morning, light winds from the SW by Wed night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 5°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
AM
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
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)
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
12
0.2
ENE
12
0.2
ENE
12
0.9
SE
5
0.2
ENE
12
0.2
ENE
12
0.2
ENE
11
0.1
NE
11
0.1
NE
11
0.1
NE
16
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
0.1
NE
15
0.1
NE
15
0.1
NE
14
1.5
NNW
7
0.9
N
8
0.7
N
7
0.5
N
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
16
17
15
15
15
39
14
14
12
5
5
10
5
5
8
9
7
198
97
49
22
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
25
WSW
30
WSW
30
WSW
20
SW
15
SSW
10
SW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
SSW
5
NNW
10
W
10
W
10
W
10
WNW
15
WNW
20
NW
15
W
5
SSW
5
NE
10
SE
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
High Tide
9:50AM1.64m
10:09PM1.77m
10:33AM1.65m
10:51PM1.76m
11:19AM1.66m
11:36PM1.74m
12:09PM1.66m
00:25AM1.72m
1:04PM1.67m
1:21AM1.70m
2:04PM1.69m
2:22AM1.69m
3:08PM1.72m
Low Tide
4:01PM0.27m
4:32AM0.24m
4:44PM0.29m
5:15AM0.23m
5:30PM0.31m
6:00AM0.22m
6:20PM0.34m
6:51AM0.23m
7:15PM0.36m
7:46AM0.23m
8:15PM0.37m
8:46AM0.22m
9:20PM0.36m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:13
7:13
7:11
7:11
7:09
7:07
7:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:34
5:34
5:35
5:36
 mm
3
Temp °C
15
15
12
14
13
8
8
10
8
9
10
9
10
13
10
14
14
12
13
14
12
Feels °C
10
10
6
8
7
3
3
5
4
7
8
6
6
10
7
10
9
9
12
12
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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