Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 23ft (7.0m), 13s period, S swell with 15,298 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangara in the next 16 days are 7.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 6.5m 13s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 23ft (7.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming down the line for Whangara.
First up, it’s a pretty quiet start. We’ve got a bit of swell on the 13th and 14th, but the wind is all over the place and it’s turning things into a mess. We’re looking at onshore cross-chop that’s just not worth paddling out for. You’ll want to sit that one out.
The 17th and 18th see the swell jump up big time, but that’s where the trouble lies for this beach and reef setup. We’re talking 13ft to 16ft of S swell, with a period around 11 seconds. That’s a lot of energy and with strong cross-shore winds, it’s not surfable. Honestly, that much water moving with those winds, you’d be better off with a kite and a big pair of balls than a paddleboard.
Now, the standout. If you’re an experienced surfer, mark your calendar for the morning of Thursday, the 20th of August. The swell drops back to a solid 10ft from the south with an 11-second period. The wind is light and variable, coming cross-offshore and the report says it’s excellent. It’s going to be big and powerful, so leave the foam boards at home.
The wind turns cleaner on the 21st, but the swell drops to a more manageable 7ft. With the west wind at a mere 3 mph in the morning, the conditions should be very clean and inviting. It’s not the standout, but a solid option for those who found Thursday too big.
Then, on the morning of Saturday the 22nd of August, we get a gift. The swell is only 4ft, but the period is a very long 15 seconds from the south, and we’ve got a light 3 mph NNW offshore breeze. That combination at a beach and reef break? That’s a recipe for some glassy, long-running lines. It’s a bit on the smaller side, but the quality will be top-shelf.
Looking further out, the surf drops right off. The 23rd and 24th are tiny, with swell under 2ft. That’s a proper lull.
The second week brings a promise but with less certainty. We see a new NNE swell building on the 27th. The morning of the 27th looks excellent: a 10ft NNE swell with a period of 8 seconds and a clean offshore northwest wind. It should be a fun, punchy day. But by the afternoon, things start getting too big again at 15ft, so get your fill early.
That’s the story for Whangara. There’s a couple of epic windows there, but a lot of time where you’re better off on the land. Keep your eyes on the Thursday and Saturday windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 51mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Fri night, fresh winds from the SW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Mon night, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 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) | SE 9 | SE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
176 | 84 | 370 | 436 | 1080 | 1383 | 694 | 782 | 479 | 262 | 169 | 190 | 110 | 74 | 13586 | 6546 | 5603 | 4892 | 0 | 0 | 2499 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:08PM1.65m | 6:34AM1.54m | 7:03PM1.66m | 7:29AM1.55m | 7:55PM1.65m | 8:22AM1.54m | 8:46PM1.61m | 9:13AM1.52m | 9:35PM1.56m | 10:03AM1.49m | 10:24PM1.49m | 10:52AM1.45m | 11:11PM1.43m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:51AM0.03m | 00:29AM0.06m | 12:48PM0.02m | 1:24AM0.04m | 1:42PM0.03m | 2:17AM0.03m | 2:35PM0.06m | 3:07AM0.05m | 3:27PM0.10m | 3:55AM0.09m | 4:16PM0.15m | 4:42AM0.14m | 5:05PM0.21m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 0 | -1 | -2 | -3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | — | E 9 | — | — | — | SE 12 |
176 | 84 | 51 | 28 | 16 | 1162 | 694 | 782 | 479 | 262 | 169 | 190 | 110 | 74 | 35 | — | 16 | — | — | — | 35 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 14 | SSE 9 | ESE 13 | SSW 18 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 12 |
70 | 60 | 14 | 25 | 20 | 8 | 17 | 31 | 250 | 202 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | ESE 14 | SE 12 | S 15 | SE 8 | SE 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
17 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 57 | 497 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | — | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 8 | S 11 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
59 | 160 | 370 | 436 | 1080 | 1383 | — | — | — | 162 | 1529 | 6518 | 9091 | 13588 | 13586 | 6546 | 5603 | 4892 | 4727 | 4558 | 2499 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 19 | 20 | 64 | 95 | 20 | 51 | 51 | 28 | 110 | 110 | 108 | 107 | 107 | 306 | 109 | 110 | 110 | 109 | 109 | 35 |
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.











