
Surf Forecasts:
Whangamata Estuary surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 17s period, ESE swell with 58 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whangamata Estuary this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamata Estuary in the next 16 days are 0.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamata Estuary over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you... the outlook for our local stretch is a bit of a bummer. There's nothing in the 16-day window that's worth paddling out for. The entire forecast is a flat spell with not a single day offering anything surfable. We're looking at a solid run of no-go conditions from the start all the way through to the end of the month.
The water temp is sitting at 59.4° right now, which is bang on average for this time of year, so that's about the only thing that's not a letdown.
The first few days have tiny, weak dribbles with energy readings in the 20s and 30s (weak energy), and the swell direction is all over the place – from the north to the east – but the size is just pathetic. You'll see some glassy mornings, like Monday morning the 13th with a 1ft easterly puff and that 22 (weak energy) reading, and Wednesday morning the 15th with a 1.6ft northerly and 29 (weak energy). But it's all knee-high or less, and the wind is the only thing that's clean. It's a cruel tease.
Then, into the second week, we get a bit more wind, but it's all onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell barely gets a pulse. The biggest energy we see is on the 20th, with a 112 (moderate energy) reading Monday afternoon, but that's a 2ft northerly with a 15.5 mph ESE onshore wind. That's not surfing, that's a kite session if you're desperate. The swell is too short period at 8 seconds, and the conditions are choppy.
The end of the run, around the 28th of July, actually shows a bit of a spike. We get a 3.9ft NNE swell on Tuesday morning with a 100 (moderate energy) reading, and then Tuesday afternoon jumps to 5.2ft from the NNE with 212 (moderate energy). But the wind is onshore from the east at 12.4 mph, making it a messy, blown-out mess. The period is a short 6 seconds, so it's just a lumpy, wind-affected closeout. Not for paddle surfing.
The break itself is Whangamata Estuary, a beach/bar setup that's already inconsistent and a beginner spot. With the swell never getting clean or big enough, and the wind being a problem more often than not, there's just nothing to recommend. It's a long, flat, poor run. Sometimes it goes like this in this area, but forecasts can change. Let's hope the next one's got more to offer.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | E 9 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 5 | E 11 | E 11 | E 13 | E 12 | E 18 | E 17 | ESE 17 | ESE 16 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | E 14 | N 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
13 | 14 | 13 | 25 | 36 | 30 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 26 | 23 | 57 | 50 | 40 | 18 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 24 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 5:28PM1.86m | 5:46AM1.81m | 6:27PM1.94m | 6:45AM1.85m | 7:23PM1.99m | 7:42AM1.87m | 8:17PM2.02m | 8:37AM1.86m | 9:09PM2.02m | 9:31AM1.84m | 10:00PM1.98m | 10:25AM1.79m | 10:49PM1.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:07AM0.10m | 11:43PM0.24m | 12:06PM0.05m | 00:43AM0.18m | 1:04PM0.01m | 1:41AM0.12m | 1:59PM-0.01m | 2:37AM0.08m | 2:53PM-0.00m | 3:30AM0.07m | 3:45PM0.04m | 4:21AM0.09m | 4:36PM0.11m | ||||||||
7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | N 5 | N 6 | N 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | E 12 | N 6 | N 5 | ESE 17 | ESE 16 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | N 6 | N 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 |
13 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 36 | 30 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 57 | 50 | 40 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 24 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 9 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 13 | NNE 4 | E 13 | E 13 | N 4 | NE 9 | N 8 | N 7 | E 14 | N 5 | E 13 | E 12 |
2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | N 9 | NE 9 | N 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 18 | E 17 | NE 10 | — | N 5 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 13 | — | — |
5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 23 | 4 | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | — | N 4 | N 5 | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | 13 | 25 | 91 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 106 | 124 | 114 | 124 | 15 | 65 | 122 | 236 | 124 | 114 | 113 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 39 | 119 | 39 | 23 |
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.










