Whangara Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.58° S 178.21° E

Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 09 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangara sea temperature is
14.4° C
0.3° 

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


Whangara surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 18s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 5,128 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period with SE 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 (Jul 12) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whangara in the next 16 days are 5.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Sun 12th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 9s
Best Surf 9PM (Thu 16th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 18s
Most Powerful 6AM (Fri 10th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 10s

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


G'day, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on what Whangara's got cooking over the next couple of weeks. It's a bumpy ride, with a long dry spell before the real energy shows up.

We're kicking off with some ugly surf. From Friday the 10th right through the middle of the week, the ocean's a mess. That big 15-foot swell from the SSE on Friday is getting hammered by a fresh cross-onshore wind, making for poor, lumpy junk. The combined energy is massive, but it's unsurfable. Saturday and Sunday are still rough, but by Sunday morning the 12th, things clean up a little with a 5-foot SE swell and a light cross-offshore breeze. Energy drops, and it's a start, but nothing special.

From there, it goes flat. Monday the 13th through Wednesday the 16th is all weak, tiny surf. Swell rarely hits 3 feet, and even though the winds are light and conditions clean, there's no power. Energy readings are weak. It's a good time to work on the car.

Here's where it gets exciting. Thursday the 16th afternoon shows a glimmer with a 3-foot SE groundswell at a long 13 seconds, giving moderate energy. Winds are light and clean. But the real standout is Friday the 17th. We're looking at an 8-foot SE groundswell with a very long 16-second period. That's a serious groundswell, and the combined energy jumps way up. The wind is a light offshore from the north in the morning, so it'll be clean. This is a big, powerful swell for experts only, as it's over 8 feet. That long period will make it work well at a beach-and-reef spot like Whangara. After that, the weekend gets windy and messy again, so that Friday window is the one to circle on the calendar.

Into the second week, Thursday the 23rd looks promising. A 7-foot SE swell with a light cross-offshore breeze and moderate energy suggests a very good day. The water temperature is about average for the season, no big surprises.

Overall, the best session in the whole outlook is the morning of Friday the 17th. That's the standout. Big, powerful swell, clean offshores, and the only day with excellent conditions for those with the skills.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Thu night, light winds from the S by Sun afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thu
16
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
4.5
S
10
4.5
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
2.3
ESE
10
2.5
SE
9
1.9
SE
9
1.7
SE
9
1.4
SE
9
1.3
ESE
9
1.2
ESE
9
0.9
ESE
9
0.8
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.7
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
10
0.3
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
11
0.5
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
12
0.8
ESE
12
0.9
ESE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3699
4333
2675
1024
1024
626
491
338
276
226
138
92
44
61
52
19
37
59
52
158
246
Wind (km/h)
40
S
35
S
30
S
25
SSW
20
SSW
15
SW
15
SSW
10
WSW
10
S
10
WNW
10
NNW
20
NNE
15
N
10
N
10
N
10
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNE
10
WNW
10
NW
5
NNE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
High Tide
00:59AM1.44m
1:34PM1.44m
1:55AM1.46m
2:31PM1.50m
2:54AM1.49m
3:31PM1.56m
3:54AM1.52m
4:30PM1.62m
4:54AM1.55m
5:29PM1.67m
5:53AM1.57m
6:27PM1.70m
6:51AM1.58m
Low Tide
7:20AM0.16m
7:46PM0.22m
8:14AM0.13m
8:45PM0.19m
9:11AM0.10m
9:46PM0.16m
10:10AM0.06m
10:47PM0.11m
11:09AM0.02m
11:48PM0.07m
12:08PM-0.01m
00:47AM0.04m
1:06PM-0.02m
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:20
7:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
5:00
5:01
5:02
5:02
5:04
5:05
 mm
17
5
2
1
Temp °C
12
12
11
10
11
10
10
10
11
9
12
13
13
15
15
13
15
17
13
15
16
Feels °C
4
5
4
3
7
6
6
7
8
7
9
9
10
12
12
10
13
15
11
13
14
  • 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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