
Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, S swell with 5,816 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 11s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whangara this week:
The surf forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangara in the next 16 days are 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.5m 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer here for Whangara. We’ve got a solid few days of proper surf coming up, though you’ll need to be patient through some rough patches. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year – nothing out of the ordinary there.
Things kick off proper on Sunday morning, the 2nd of August. That’s your first proper shout. Whangara is a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed and it loves an ENE swell direction. We’re looking at a solid 8ft swell out of the south with a 12-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at 2183. That’s a heap of power. The wind is coming from the west at 9 mph, so a cross-off breeze, which will keep them clean. This is for experienced surfers only – that size is pushing it for anyone not comfortable in solid waves.
Sunday afternoon drops off a touch with a 8ft south swell, but the wind swings south and goes cross-on, so it gets a bit messy. Not the pick of the sessions.
Monday the 3rd is looking tidy. Morning session sees 6ft of south swell, with a proper offshore wind from the WNW at 16 mph. That’ll groom the faces nicely. The energy is moderate at 686. It’s not the biggest, but it’ll be clean and fun. Monday afternoon goes lighter with 4ft and a cross-off breeze – still surfable.
Tuesday the 4th is a write-off. A tiny 1.0ft swell and strong cross-on winds, then even smaller. Same for Wednesday the 5th – there’s a big 13ft swell showing on Wednesday afternoon, but the wind is howling from the SSW at 22 mph and it’s cross-shore. The energy reading is massive at 5064, but with that wind, it’ll be a complete mess. More of a kite-surfing day than a paddle session.
Thursday the 6th offers a chance in the morning. 8ft south swell, 12 seconds, and a cross-off breeze from the WSW at 16 mph. Clean, powerful, and for experienced surfers only. The energy is 1934. Thursday afternoon drops off.
Friday the 7th is a good morning call. 6ft from the SSE with a 10-second period, light cross-off wind from the WSW at 6 mph. Clean and a bit more manageable. Energy is 737.
Now, the standout window is the weekend. Saturday the 8th morning is a beauty – 7ft south swell with a 13-second period, light cross-off wind from the WNW at just 3 mph. That’ll be clean, powerful, and lined up. Energy is 1573. For experienced surfers again.
Sunday the 9th is a proper gem. Morning has 4ft from the SSE but with a very long 17-second period – proper groundswell. Offshore wind from the NW at 3 mph, energy at 1728. That long period will wrap nicely around the reef at Whangara. Then Sunday afternoon gets even bigger – 10ft from the SSE with a 15-second period, light cross-off wind, and energy at 3706. That’s a massive, powerful swell. Only for the experienced crew, and it’ll be a proper session.
Monday the 10th is glassy in the morning – 6ft SSE swell with no wind. That’s a rare treat. Energy at 778. The afternoon goes glassy too with 5ft. Nice and clean.
From Tuesday the 11th onwards, the swell starts to fade and the wind turns more onshore or cross. There’s a few small, clean days like Wednesday the 12th morning with 3ft and a light offshore, but it’s very small. A long gap of poor conditions follows until the 16th of August, which has a bit of potential: Sunday morning the 16th is a bit choppy, but Sunday afternoon goes glassy with a 3ft SSE swell – a good little window if you’re desperate for a paddle.
Overall, the standout sessions are Sunday the 9th – both morning and afternoon – and Saturday the 8th morning. That’s where the stars align.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Wed morning, light winds from the WSW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2058 | 1398 | 970 | 669 | 377 | 109 | 23 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 5064 | 3035 | 1893 | 432 | 951 | 550 | 550 | 1934 | 1561 | 1080 | 851 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 8:43PM1.46m | 9:05AM1.36m | 9:25PM1.46m | 9:49AM1.38m | 10:08PM1.46m | 10:35AM1.40m | 10:54PM1.46m | 11:24AM1.43m | 11:44PM1.46m | 12:16PM1.46m | 00:38AM1.46m | 1:13PM1.49m | 1:36AM1.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:33PM0.22m | 3:06AM0.22m | 3:17PM0.22m | 3:48AM0.20m | 4:02PM0.22m | 4:31AM0.18m | 4:49PM0.22m | 5:17AM0.17m | 5:38PM0.22m | 6:05AM0.16m | 6:32PM0.21m | 6:58AM0.15m | 7:28PM0.20m | ||||||||
7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
Feels °C | 6 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 2 | -3 | -3 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 12 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | — | — | S 12 | S 12 | SE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 11 |
2058 | 1398 | 970 | 669 | 377 | 453 | 23 | 14 | 6 | — | — | 3035 | 1893 | 432 | 951 | 550 | 550 | 1934 | 1561 | 1080 | 851 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SSE 14 | ENE 14 | SSW 11 | S 13 | SSE 10 | SE 14 | — | — | — | — | SE 16 | SE 15 | NE 10 | SE 13 | SSW 10 | S 18 | SSE 9 | SE 11 | NE 13 | NE 13 |
88 | 321 | 20 | 24 | 163 | 109 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 41 | 36 | 4 | 109 | 136 | 408 | 321 | 5 | 7 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 15 | ENE 15 | NE 7 | ENE 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 18 | E 18 | — | — | — | — | NE 18 | NE 11 | E 17 | NE 16 | SE 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | NE 14 | N 10 | N 10 |
37 | 21 | 2 | 17 | 56 | 66 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 187 | 78 | 77 | 7 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | — | S 15 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | — | — | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2828 | 2754 | 8617 | 7322 | 5064 | 4103 | 2773 | 953 | — | — | 281 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 35 | 374 | 109 | 151 | 110 | 35 | 51 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Whangara Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Whangara provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whangara can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whangara 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 (Whangara) 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 Whangara 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 Gisborne and Mahia? If you are looking for accommodation near Whangara, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Gisborne and Mahia, consider staying in Gisborne which is 22 km (14 miles) away.











