Whangara Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.58° S 178.21° E

Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 11 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangara sea temperature is
13.5°C
0.6° 

Whangara surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Whangara surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 12s period, S swell with 1,496 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whangara in the next 16 days are 2.3m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 15s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Sat 12th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 7s
Best Surf12AM (Mon 14th Sep)8ft (2.4m) 11s
Most Powerful 6AM (Mon 14th Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Time to break down the next bit of swell at Whangara in terms you can feel.

For the next week and a half, it’s a lot of waiting for the windows to open. There’s a heap of small, messy days early on, but a couple of pulses of real energy are coming through.

Right off the bat, from Saturday September 12th through Monday the 14th, it’s pretty flat. We’ve got wave heights barely pushing 1 ft. A couple of mornings are glassy or clean, but there’s no grunt behind any of it. The combined swell energy is only reading in the double digits (weak). Not worth wetsuiting up for.

Now, Tuesday the 15th morning kicks off the first real tease. A clean NNW offshore breeze meets a 4 ft south swell. The combined energy jumps to 312 (moderate). It’s clean, not huge, but it’s a proper surfable window. The wind stays light, giving you a few fun, lined-up runners.

The next clear standout is Monday the 21st. The morning session is the one. We've got a 5 ft south swell rolling in with a crisp NNE offshore wind, keeping the faces clean. Combined energy is up over 500 (moderate to strong). That’s a proper wall of water, and the offshores should hold it together nicely.

The main event, the one you want to pencil in, is Saturday the 26th of September. We are looking at a solid 8 ft south groundswell in the morning, and the wind is going glassy. The combined energy reading absolutely spikes at 1124 (strong). That is a serious, heavy pulse of power. It’s going to be too much for beginners, but for anyone with experience, that’s the session of the outlook. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-shore breeze, so you want to be on it early.

In between these sessions, there are plenty of days of onshore slop or tiny leftovers, especially from the 22nd through the 25th. The 22nd even shows a messy 8 ft southerly with onshore winds – that’s a grinder for the hardcore only.

Because the breaks here are fairly consistent for New Zealand, these quiet patches don’t last long.

Stay frosty,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
0
4
0
0
0
2
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
NE
9
0.4
NE
13
1.5
S
6
0.5
NE
13
0.4
NE
12
1.1
S
5
2.4
S
11
0.3
NE
12
0.3
NE
12
0.2
NNE
11
1.2
S
10
1
S
10
0.8
S
10
0.6
S
9
0.5
S
9
0.3
NE
12
0.4
SE
12
0.6
SE
11
0.4
SE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
38
44
170
80
53
65
1317
22
22
12
294
216
121
54
39
22
52
76
38
Wind (km/h)
15
W
25
SW
20
SSW
10
N
15
W
25
SSW
10
W
5
NE
10
NNE
10
NNE
5
N
25
NE
10
N
5
NNW
15
NE
20
WNW
15
NW
15
NW
15
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross
off
off
off
off
High Tide
6:16AM1.51m
6:41PM1.58m
7:08AM1.52m
7:30PM1.57m
7:57AM1.52m
8:18PM1.54m
8:45AM1.51m
9:05PM1.49m
9:31AM1.49m
9:51PM1.45m
10:16AM1.45m
10:36PM1.39m
Low Tide
00:09AM0.08m
12:29PM0.09m
1:00AM0.07m
1:21PM0.10m
1:49AM0.07m
2:11PM0.11m
2:36AM0.10m
2:59PM0.15m
3:22AM0.14m
3:46PM0.19m
4:06AM0.19m
4:32PM0.24m
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:13
6:11
6:09
6:07
6:05
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
5:57
5:58
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
12
13
10
9
14
13
10
11
10
11
14
13
12
16
17
13
17
18
14
Feels °C
9
8
5
6
8
7
7
9
7
9
10
8
9
13
14
9
13
14
11
  • 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 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.

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