
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Estuary surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, N swell with 815 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 12AM (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 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 9AM. 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Estuary over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a pretty bleak run for the next week and a half. The only break we’re looking at is Whangamata Estuary, and the truth is, it’s pretty much flatlined for most of the period. The first real chance of anything rideable doesn't show up until Wednesday the 29th of July, and even then it's more of a paddling exercise than a proper surf – you’re looking at a tiny 2ft east swell, but the winds are glassy in the morning, so if you’re desperate for a foam-ball session on a longboard, that’s your window. The combined energy is a weak 90, which tells you all you need to know about the lack of push.
The water temp is sitting at 59°, and with a tiny anomaly of 0.2°, that’s bang average for this time of year.
Then we get a bit of a jump on Friday the 31st of July. The morning sees a spike in swell height to 8ft from the north, with a short period of 8 seconds and combined energy shooting up to 1254 – that’s a lot of moving water, but it’s coming in with a fresh cross-offshore wind, and that period is too short for such a size. It’s going to be a lumpy, chunky mess, really just marginal and better suited for someone who knows what they’re doing on a bigger board. The afternoon drops to 5ft with similar wind but better clarity.
Saturday the 1st of August is the standout of this whole outlook – and I’m saying that with a heavy heart because it’s nothing special. The swell drops to 4ft from the north-northwest, but we get a solid offshore wind from the west-northwest at 12 mph. That’s clean. The period is short at 7 seconds, so it won’t have much shape, but it’ll be clean enough to get a few close-out runners. Combined energy is moderate at 262. The crowds can be a problem here sometimes, so you might not be alone, but for this region, that Saturday morning is the best you’re going to get in this 16-day window.
After that, it’s a done deal. From Sunday the 2nd of August right through to Monday the 10th of August, the forecast is mostly small, messy, and blown out. There’s a long stretch where the swell drops to 1ft or even 0.7ft, with periods up to 17 seconds on the 4th and 5th of August, but with no size at all, that deep period just means glassy but gutless conditions. Glassy, sure, but you’ll be sitting there waiting for a ripple.
So to wrap it: if you absolutely need to get wet, the Wednesday the 29th of July morning is your glassy ankle-snatcher, and the standout is Saturday the 1st of August morning for clean, offshore conditions and a little bit of push at 4ft. Don’t hold your breath for anything after that.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the N by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 7 | N 7 | E 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
56 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 32 | 59 | 89 | 87 | 85 | 75 | 72 | 70 | 62 | 815 | 266 | 117 | 131 | 47 | 25 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | on |
High Tide | 4:31PM1.54m | 4:41AM1.50m | 5:20PM1.57m | 5:30AM1.52m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:36PM0.54m | 10:56AM0.40m | 11:28PM0.52m | 11:45AM0.37m | 00:17AM0.48m | 12:32PM0.33m | 1:04AM0.43m | 1:16PM0.29m | 1:48AM0.38m | 1:58PM0.26m | 2:31AM0.33m | 2:40PM0.25m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | |
5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 25 |
Temp °C | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 |
56 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 32 | 59 | 89 | 87 | 85 | 75 | 72 | 70 | 62 | 403 | 266 | 117 | 54 | 47 | 21 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 8 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | NW 6 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | N 10 | N 10 | E 16 | E 6 | N 4 | NE 12 | NE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | E 13 | E 12 |
1 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 22 | 50 | 43 | 49 | 28 | 25 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | E 9 | N 6 | N 6 | E 11 | E 11 | N 10 | N 10 | E 7 | — | E 12 | E 12 | — | E 19 | E 13 | NE 18 | ENE 17 | ENE 17 | ENE 17 | ENE 15 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 7 | 14 | 12 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 23 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 4 | — | SW 2 | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | N 4 | N 5 | N 8 | W 3 | WNW 3 | NNW 7 | — | SE 3 |
— | 6 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 6 | 40 | 815 | 1 | 3 | 131 | — | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 65 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 239 | 142 | 142 | 195 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
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.










