
Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, S swell with 7,010 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s 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 05) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 12s 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 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.5m 12s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a 16-day window for Whangara, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The windows of opportunity are there, but you’ve got to pick your moments.
The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is just about bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real chance for a surf kicks off on Thursday, August 6th. The morning looks clean with a light WSW breeze at 12 mph, giving us a cross-offshore wind. There’s a 10ft S swell pushing through, which is a lot of water – the energy is strong (2097). That size is going to be for experienced surfers only, as it’s well over the 8ft mark. The afternoon holds a 7ft SSE swell, but the wind goes cross-shore and it gets a bit lumpy, so the morning is the pick of that day.
Friday, August 7th morning is a silver lining. The wind is a whisper-light WNW at 3 mph, making it a clean, cross-offshore breeze. You’ve got a 5ft SE swell with a long 12-second period. The energy is still high (1006), but the conditions are expected to be very good. This is a solid option for a wide range of surfers.
Now, the standout window is Saturday, August 8th. This is the one to circle. The morning has a 6ft S swell, but the wind is a clean offshore from the NW at 9 mph. The energy is pumping (1417), and the conditions are dialled for experienced surfers. The afternoon holds up nicely too, with a 6ft S swell and lighter offshore NW wind at 6 mph. The direction is perfect for Whangara, and the crowd factor is only “sometimes,” so you might get a few waves to yourself.
Sunday, August 9th is still worth a paddle. The morning has a 4ft S swell with a nice offshore NW breeze at 16 mph, and the afternoon steps it up with a 3ft SSE swell but a very long 15-second period, giving it that extra grunt. The wind is offshore from the WNW, keeping it clean.
The forecast gets a bit messy from Monday, August 10th through to Wednesday, August 12th. Strong onshore winds and rain ruin the quality, with a couple of days of heavy rain and strong breezes. The swell is big, but the wind is on it, making it a write-off for paddle surfing.
We get a reprieve on Thursday, August 13th morning. The wind goes glassy, with a light 5ft SE swell. It’s small, but that glassy surface is a treat. The energy is moderate (493), and it’s worth a dawny if you’re keen on a log or a fish.
Friday, August 14th morning is more of the same – glassy conditions and a 4ft SE swell. It’s small, clean, and fun for the right equipment.
Saturday, August 15th afternoon is a bit of a curveball. The wind goes glassy, but the swell swings to a 7ft ENE with a short 7-second period. That’s a lot of energy for a short-period swell, making it a bit crumbly. It’s a punt, but if you’re desperate, it’s there.
Now, from Sunday, August 16th onwards, things get wild. The swell pumps up to 13ft to 16ft, and the energy readings are massive (3000 to 5000+). The wind is often cross-off or clean, but the size is way beyond what’s manageable for normal surfing. This is purely for the big-wave chargers, and even then, it’s going to be a beast. The wind and tide look favorable, but the sheer volume of water makes it a specialist-only game.
So, the best on offer is Saturday, August 8th. The 6ft S swell with clean offshore NW wind, coupled with the strong wave energy, is the clear winner. The Friday, August 7th morning and Sunday, August 9th are your backup days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 10°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the W by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 12 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 15 | S 13 | S 12 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 5913 | 3221 | 2036 | 951 | 576 | 565 | 853 | 1126 | 1060 | 833 | 485 | 396 | 456 | 782 | 339 | 106 | 88 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 2:12PM1.52m | 2:36AM1.47m | 3:13PM1.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:54AM0.13m | 8:28PM0.19m | 8:52AM0.11m | 9:29PM0.16m | ||||||||
7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
— | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | |
mm | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 19 | 22 | 24 |
Temp °C | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 0 | -2 | -4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | — | — | SE 16 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | N 8 | S 12 | NNE 9 | S 11 |
23 | 14 | 14 | — | — | 41 | 2036 | 403 | 576 | 441 | 440 | 1126 | 1060 | 833 | 485 | 396 | 326 | 350 | 339 | 106 | 2730 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | E 16 | — | — | — | NE 11 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SSW 11 | SE 12 | S 16 | S 9 | SE 11 | SSE 16 | SE 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | S 13 | NNE 9 | NE 7 | NNE 9 |
8 | 5 | — | — | — | 5 | 57 | 116 | 452 | 565 | 853 | 251 | 125 | 169 | 29 | 160 | 456 | 782 | 208 | 34 | 88 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 18 | — | — | — | — | E 18 | NE 11 | NE 10 | SE 14 | SSW 10 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 16 | SE 11 | SSE 14 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | S 17 | — |
6 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 4 | 257 | 78 | 403 | 291 | 232 | 75 | 81 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 10 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | NW 3 | — | NW 3 | NNW 6 | N 5 | N 8 | W 3 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
1178 | 2318 | 5607 | 8090 | 5913 | 3221 | 2947 | 951 | 619 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 7 | 129 | 765 | 2 | 1164 | 3579 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 95 | 108 | 109 | 151 | 110 | 35 | 20 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 51 | 95 |
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.











