Surf Forecasts:
Whangamoa surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, NNW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, NNW swell with 1,778 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whangamoa this week:
The surf forecast for Whangamoa over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangamoa in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangamoa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the cards for Whangamoa over the next couple of weeks.
It’s a pretty grim start, I’m not gonna lie. The first week is basically a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. We’ve got a long gap of nothing but junk, with the first real possibility not showing up until the tail end of the second week. The water sits at a pretty average 54°F for the first break I look at, which is normal for the time of year.
We start on Monday 24th August with zero energy and a cross-on breeze. That’s a big fat zero. Tuesday and Wednesday bring some tiny, choppy bits of swell, but the wind is all wrong, so it’s just messy. Thursday 27th morning has a clean-ish cross-off wind, but the swell is a pathetic 2 ft with a period of only 5 seconds – barely a ripple. Friday 28th and 29th, the wind jumps onshore and the swell gets big, but it’s just raw, stormy, and unsurfable. The weekend of the 30th drops right off again.
The standout in this whole outlook is a very specific, expert-only window. It’s not for the faint-hearted. On Thursday 3rd September afternoon, we’ve got a solid 8 ft swell from the NW with a 7-second period. The combined energy is a serious 589 (moderate), and the wind is just a light cross-on. The file says the tide and wind are favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is a big-wave, experienced crew only spot. You’d want to be a solid surfer here.
Then, on Friday 4th September morning, the wind finally goes clean, offshore from the SSE. The swell is still a meaty 8 ft from the NNW, with a 9-second period and a combined energy of 757 (moderate to strong). Again, that’s too big for the average punter, but for the lads who know what they’re doing, that’s the pick of the entire forecast. The offshore wind will make it clean, but it’s a beast of a wave. The afternoon of the 4th drops to a more manageable 5 ft but the wind is just cross-off, so it’s not as good.
After that, it’s back to tiny, weak stuff from the 5th onwards, with a few glassy mornings but no real push. The 7th of September has a long-period swell (17 seconds) from the NW, but it’s only 1 ft – it’ll be a pretty, glassy lake. The 8th of September shows another big pulse of 12 ft, but it’s onshore and messy, so that’s a no-go.
So, the honest truth is this: for the first 10 days, don’t bother. The best on offer is that 24-hour window on the 3rd and 4th of September. It’s not for learners, but if you’re an expert, those two mornings are the only real chance to get something big and powerful. The rest is pretty much a bust.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue night, calm by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Fri morning, light winds from the WSW by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 15 | W 3 | NW 15 | WNW 6 | WSW 4 | NW 15 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 18 | NW 3 | NNW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 5 | 60 | 77 | 33 | 0 | 64 | 80 | 26 | 21 | 160 | 1308 | 1778 | 417 | 167 | 85 | 43 | 30 | 5 | 24 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:17PM2.51m | 7:44AM2.48m | 8:08PM2.70m | 8:31AM2.67m | 8:50PM2.91m | 9:10AM2.86m | 9:26PM3.09m | 9:45AM3.03m | 10:01PM3.25m | 10:20AM3.16m | 10:35PM3.35m | 10:54AM3.25m | 11:09PM3.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:38AM0.91m | 1:55PM0.81m | 2:25AM0.70m | 2:39PM0.60m | 3:05AM0.48m | 3:17PM0.41m | 3:41AM0.28m | 3:52PM0.25m | 4:15AM0.13m | 4:27PM0.13m | 4:48AM0.04m | 5:01PM0.08m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 15 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 15 | NW 6 | NW 5 | — | NW 14 | NNW 5 | NW 12 | — | — | — | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 16 | NW 11 |
178 | 34 | 47 | 35 | 27 | 23 | — | 7 | 26 | 6 | — | — | — | 417 | 167 | 85 | 43 | 18 | 43 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 15 | NW 15 | — | NW 14 | NW 15 | — | — | NW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 21 | NW 21 | NNW 19 | NNW 18 | NNW 7 | NNW 16 |
— | 112 | 60 | — | 33 | 33 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 17 | 36 | 30 | 5 | 24 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 17 | NW 17 | — | — | — | — | NW 13 | N 13 | — | — | NW 8 | N 7 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | W 3 | — | WNW 6 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NE 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 4 |
60 | 5 | — | 77 | 33 | 4 | 64 | 80 | 2 | 21 | 160 | 1308 | 1778 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 13 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 55 | 55 | 99 | 99 | 55 | 55 | 127 | 8 | 105 | 55 | 116 | 161 | 127 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 8 | 109 | 99 | 55 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Whangamoa Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Whangamoa provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whangamoa can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whangamoa 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 (Whangamoa) 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 Whangamoa 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Nelson - Tasman Bay? If you are looking for accommodation near Whangamoa, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nelson - Tasman Bay, consider staying in Nelson which is 29 km (18 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Blenheim which is 58 km (36 miles) away











