Whangamata Estuary Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.23° S 175.89° E

Whangamata Estuary Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 08 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangamata Estuary sea temperature is
15.5° C
0.1° 

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 8 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, ESE swell with 286 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 09) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Thu 9th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 10s
Best Surf 3AM (Tue 14th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 6s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sat 11th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 10s

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


Alright, let’s talk about what’s happening at Whangamata Estuary. I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are pretty grim for surf. We’re looking at a long, quiet stretch with only one potential day that gets my attention.

Right now and through the weekend, it’s small and wonky. Thursday the 9th has a weak 3ft swell from the east, but the wind is all over the place – cross-off in the morning and a messy cross-shore in the arvo. Combined energy is low, around 155, and it’s just not worth paddling out.

Friday the 10th is even smaller, droppin’ to 2ft, with more cross-onshore chop. Saturday morning the 11th is a tease – you get a light breeze and a clean surface on that same 3ft easterly, and the energy bumps up a bit to 130, but it’s still pretty ordinary. Not gonna see any real power.

Then it really goes flat. Sunday the 12th through to the middle of the following week, swell drops below 2ft and the energy barely reaches 48. You might get a tiny glass-off moment on Monday the 13th morning with a 4ft NNE windswell and zero wind – sounds good, but that period is only 5 seconds, so it's choppy and weak. Combined energy is 124. It’s surfable, but not quality.

There is a window on Tuesday the 14th morning: a 4ft NNE swell with a northwest cross-off breeze at just 5 km/h. The energy sits at 170, and the clean surface makes it look juicier than anything else around. But don’t get too excited – it’s still short-period and won’t offer much push.

After that, we hit another flat spell through to Saturday the 18th, when the swell pumps up to 10ft from the northeast. Before you grab your board, listen – that’s a 10ft onshored mess with a strong easterly wind at 20 km/h, and the combined energy is massive at 1775. The period is only 9 seconds, and with that onshore wind, this is a blown-out wall of white water. It’s more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day. This is only for experts if anyone is crazy enough, but the quality is terrible.

Then Sunday the 19th is another onshore chaos day, 5ft but with 35-40 km/h easterly winds. Totally blown out. The rest of the forecast, into the 24th, just stays small and onshore, with rain and fresh breezes. The only silver lining is the long-period 12-second east swell showing up on the 24th (Friday morning), but it’s 5ft under a 35 km/h easterly. That’s a no-go for clean surf.

The standout? Honestly, it's Tuesday morning, the 14th of July. That 4ft NNE swell with near-calm cross-off wind and a clean surface is the best you’re gonna find. Break is Whangamata Estuary. Water temp is about average for the time of year. Crowds can show up here sometimes, so you might have company, but the waves are small and weak. It’s not a standout for power, just for being the cleanest session in a very long flat spell.

So, the story is: a week of flatness, one so-so window on the 14th, then a week of either too much onshore wind or weak junk. Don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu night, light winds from the SSE by Sat morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wed
15
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
E
10
0.8
E
10
0.8
E
10
0.8
E
10
0.6
E
10
0.6
E
10
1
ESE
10
0.8
E
10
0.7
E
10
0.5
E
10
0.5
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.4
E
9
1.2
NNE
5
0.8
NE
5
1.5
N
6
1.3
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
6
0.7
NNE
6
0.5
NNE
6
0.4
NNE
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
154
122
122
121
69
66
197
125
94
45
44
43
25
70
29
175
157
68
41
19
11
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
15
SSW
25
S
30
S
20
S
15
SE
10
SSE
10
S
10
SE
10
ESE
10
SE
5
E
5
ENE
0
SSW
15
N
20
NNW
5
NW
15
W
10
W
5
WNW
0
W
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
glassy
glassy
High Tide
00:51AM1.69m
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
Low Tide
7:17AM0.27m
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
part cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:14
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
 mm
1
3
Temp °C
11
12
13
12
12
13
10
11
11
11
12
12
11
14
15
13
14
15
11
14
15
Feels °C
9
8
6
4
7
8
6
8
8
8
10
10
9
11
12
9
12
13
9
14
15
  • 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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