
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Estuary surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NNE swell with 2,467 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period with NNW 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Estuary over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this one’s a tough sit. The Whangamata Estuary is not doing us any favours for the foreseeable future. We’ve got a long, dry patch ahead, so don’t rush to get the wetsuit on just yet.
Right now, and for the next few days, we’re looking at flat, weak dribble. The swell energy is tiny, barely registering (12 in the combined energy). Water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year – nothing wild there. The wind is light offshore, but with a swell height of just 0.3ft, it’s a lake. This carries on through the weekend and into the start of the week. Monday the 11th morning goes glassy, but still only 2ft and weak energy (56) – it’s clean but not surfable.
The first real sign of life doesn’t show up until Sunday afternoon, the 9th. We get a bump up to 5ft out of the NNW, but the period is a short, weak 6 seconds. The energy jumps to 206 (moderate), but the wind is cross-offshore and the conditions are ordinary. Not terrible, but far from good. The real tease comes on Friday the 14th. The afternoon brings a solid 12ft swell from the NNE, with a 10-second period and a massive energy reading of 4098. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean. But here’s the rub – 12ft is big, expert-only territory, and at a beach/bar setup like this, a longer-period groundswell (10 seconds is decent but not super long) can make it dumpy and unruly. It’s a standout for size, but only for the brave.
Saturday the 15th morning still has some size at 7ft (NE, 9 seconds, energy 675) but with moderate cross-off winds, it’s still a handful. After that, the swell fades fast. The end of the second week goes flat again, with tiny 0.7ft to 1.0ft waves and glassy or light offshore winds, but no energy to speak of. It’s a clean, flat pond.
So, the best on offer? If you’re an expert, the Friday the 14th afternoon window is the only real standout, but it’s big, raw, and not for the faint-hearted. For everyone else, it’s a long wait with very little reward. These blank runs happen here – the Estuary can go quiet for days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 5°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | NE 15 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 13 | N 5 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 7 | NNE 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 139 | 51 | 91 | 73 | 54 | 48 | 34 | 37 | 160 | 326 | 183 | 121 | 146 | 468 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:21AM1.70m | 2:04PM1.69m | 2:22AM1.69m | 3:08PM1.72m | 3:27AM1.70m | 4:11PM1.77m | 4:31AM1.72m | 5:13PM1.84m | 5:33AM1.76m | 6:11PM1.90m | 6:31AM1.80m | 7:05PM1.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:15PM0.36m | 7:46AM0.23m | 8:15PM0.37m | 8:46AM0.22m | 9:20PM0.36m | 9:48AM0.19m | 10:25PM0.32m | 10:51AM0.15m | 11:29PM0.26m | 11:51AM0.10m | 00:29AM0.19m | 12:48PM0.06m | 1:25AM0.12m | |||||||
— | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 15 | 4 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 11 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | NE 15 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 13 | E 13 | N 6 | N 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NE 11 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | E 16 |
3 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 57 | 51 | 91 | 73 | 54 | 48 | 34 | 37 | 5 | 248 | 183 | 121 | 96 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 16 | E 6 | E 6 | N 12 | E 10 | N 12 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | N 12 | — | — | E 12 | E 9 | E 8 |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | N 13 | N 13 | NE 10 | N 12 | — | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | — | E 12 | — | E 13 | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | E 13 | — |
4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 3 | N 5 | NNW 6 | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | — | — | N 7 | NNE 7 |
— | — | — | — | 2 | 24 | 139 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 160 | 326 | — | — | 146 | 468 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 122 | 106 | 106 | 110 | 122 | 114 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 106 | 54 | 134 | 49 | 18 | 0 | 114 | 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.











