
Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, S swell with 544 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangara in the next 16 days are 1.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Whangara's got cooking over the next couple of weeks.
Right, the feeling I get is a long, slow start. We're looking at a pretty flat spell to kick things off, with nothing worthwhile for the first several days. You'll be waiting through Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and most of Monday with hardly a ripple. It's a quiet one, but these runs happen. The first real hint of life doesn't show until about midday on Tuesday the 8th.
That Tuesday afternoon on the 8th is where it starts to get interesting. A south swell pushes in to about 5.2 ft, and with a gentle offshore wind from the northwest, it should be clean. The combined swell energy is moderate (549), and it's enough to be considered good. It's not a giant, but for the first proper surf in days, it’s a welcome sight. Wednesday morning the 9th keeps that clean vibe with a south-southeast swell around 3.9 ft. Light cross-offshore winds and moderate wave energy (311) should make for a fun morning session.
Now, the real standout on this forecast is later down the line. Mark your calendars for Wednesday the 16th. The afternoon session looks absurdly clean. We’re talking a solid 5.6 ft south swell, but the wind is set to go glassy – dead calm from the south-southwest. The combined energy jumps to a strong 777. That's the kind of afternoon that makes all the waiting worth it. That swell direction is a good match for Whangara's optimum, so the waves should have some real push and shape.
The next day, Thursday the 17th, brings even more size with a south swell hitting 7.9 ft in the morning. The period is a very long 14 seconds, which means proper groundswell energy – the combined energy is a massive 2328. This is expert territory; it'll be big and powerful. Plus, a strong offshore wind from the west will have it looking pretty intimidating but clean. A spot like Whangara, a beach and reef set-up, can handle that, but it's not for the faint of heart. The afternoon drops a bit to 6.6 ft, still with a long period.
For a surfer just looking for a session, Tuesday the 8th afternoon is your early win, but the true highlight is that glassy Wednesday afternoon on the 16th. Get ready for it.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun night, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 11 | S 10 | S 10 | NNE 5 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 10 | NNE 6 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 22 | 17 | 11 | 71 | 30 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 160 | 129 | 110 | 59 | 35 | 472 | 287 | 265 | 220 | 113 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 10:13AM1.50m | 10:35PM1.49m | 11:04AM1.51m | 11:27PM1.48m | 11:59AM1.52m | 00:23AM1.46m | 12:56PM1.52m | 1:22AM1.45m | 1:57PM1.53m | 2:23AM1.44m | 2:57PM1.54m | 3:24AM1.45m | 3:57PM1.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:31PM0.17m | 4:54AM0.13m | 5:23PM0.17m | 5:46AM0.13m | 6:17PM0.18m | 6:41AM0.14m | 7:15PM0.19m | 7:38AM0.14m | 8:15PM0.18m | 8:37AM0.14m | 9:16PM0.17m | 9:37AM0.12m | 10:16PM0.14m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | S 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
1104 | 726 | 327 | 191 | 71 | 30 | 26 | 101 | 52 | 121 | 49 | 26 | 129 | 110 | 1098 | 696 | 472 | 287 | 265 | 220 | 113 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 11 | SSW 11 | NNE 4 | SSW 6 | ENE 10 | NE 4 | NE 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NE 17 | NNE 5 | NE 7 | ENE 15 | NE 7 |
3 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 39 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 60 | 57 | 25 | 25 | 59 | 35 | 11 | 9 | 25 | 21 | 23 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | N 11 | SE 11 | N 10 | ENE 10 | N 8 | NNE 5 | S 15 | ENE 10 | S 9 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | SSW 17 | E 9 | E 16 | NE 16 | SW 15 | NE 7 | ENE 15 | S 11 | SSW 10 |
4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 10 | 18 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 10 | NNW 7 | N 3 | N 3 | W 3 | — | NNE 4 | — | — | N 3 | NNE 6 | — | SSW 5 | — | — | NNE 8 | N 5 | — | NE 7 | N 3 |
— | 22 | 17 | 2 | 8 | 1 | — | 11 | — | — | 6 | 160 | — | 95 | — | — | 66 | 15 | — | 42 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 115 | 11 | 64 | 13 | 32 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 107 | 28 | 11 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 22 | 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.










