Whangara Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.58° S 178.21° E

Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 15 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangara sea temperature is
13.4°C
0.7° 

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


Whangara surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s period, SE swell with 369 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period with SSE 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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. 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 1.1m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 11s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Tue 15th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Best Surf 9PM (Tue 15th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Most Powerful 6AM (Fri 18th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. We're looking at local spot Whangara, a beach and reef set-up that's fairly exposed to the action. The coming 16 days are a real mixed bag – we’ve got a few clean windows, but also some wild, windy weather to sit through.

Let's get into it. The action kicks off Tuesday morning, the 15th. That’s our standout window. We’ve got a clean 5-foot swell out of the south, with a nice 11-second period. The combined energy is sitting at a solid moderate 537. The wind is a light offshore from the north, keeping the surface glassy. This is the moment to paddle out. Water temp is 56°F, which is about 1°F cooler than average for this time of year, so nothing too unusual, just a standard chilly spring session.

That Tuesday afternoon the wind swings NE and picks up, making things choppy and messy, so aim for the morning. Wednesday, September 16th, has a small but clean morning with a 2-foot southeast groundswell and a long 13-second period, light offshore wind – great for a grovel session if you’ve got a log. Thursday has surfable but ordinary waist-high waves with variable wind.

Friday the 18th looks more interesting for the morning: chest-high 4-foot swell, 12-second period from the southeast, and a light offshore breeze. The combined energy is a solid 438. It's clean, but the swell direction isn't a perfect match for Whangara's optimum, so the shape might be a touch lumpy.

Saturday the 19th is another standout. The afternoon is looking absolutely perfect for a late session: the wind goes dead calm, glassy as a mirror, and there’s a clean 3-foot SSE groundswell with a 11-second period. That's a beautiful combination of smaller, clean waves and no wind.

From Sunday the 20th onwards, things get ordinary. The onshore winds start to bully the coast, and the swell drops off. We hit a proper dead spell from Monday the 21st into the middle of the next week. The energy numbers drop below 100, with tiny 2-foot to 2-foot swell and persistent onshore winds. There’s about a week of flat, messy conditions.

Keep an eye on Thursday, September 24th though. The morning shows a big bump in swell to 10 feet out of the south, but the period is a short 8 seconds, and it's being blasted by a strong SSW wind at 19 mph. The combined energy rockets up to 1158, which is strong, but with those onshore winds, the surface will be a mess. For paddle surfing, it’s a no-go. That set-up with the strong wind and big, lumpy swell is more interesting for the kite crew.

After that, the end of the month into the start of October is a write-off: small, weak swells, constant onshore or cross-shore winds, and rain. A bit of a blank run for the area, but forecasts can change.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Sun afternoon).

Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
2
2
1
2
1
1
0
1
0
2
2
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
S
11
1.4
S
10
1.2
SSE
10
0.6
SE
13
1.1
SSE
9
1.1
SE
11
1
SE
10
0.9
SE
9
0.7
SE
14
1.1
SE
12
1.1
SE
12
0.9
SE
12
0.9
SE
12
1
SE
11
1
SE
11
0.9
SE
11
0.7
SE
11
0.6
ESE
10
0.5
SE
10
0.5
SE
10
0.5
SE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
517
400
271
104
203
288
188
147
203
330
303
232
195
237
229
166
115
73
52
50
48
Wind (km/h)
5
N
20
NE
15
NW
10
NW
10
ENE
15
WNW
15
NNW
15
NNW
25
SSW
15
WSW
25
S
10
WNW
10
W
5
N
25
W
15
W
30
S
15
WSW
5
WNW
25
NE
10
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross
off
High Tide
9:05PM1.49m
9:31AM1.49m
9:51PM1.45m
10:16AM1.45m
10:36PM1.39m
11:01AM1.41m
11:21PM1.34m
11:48AM1.37m
00:08AM1.30m
12:35PM1.34m
00:56AM1.26m
1:24PM1.32m
1:45AM1.24m
Low Tide
2:59PM0.15m
3:22AM0.14m
3:46PM0.19m
4:06AM0.19m
4:32PM0.24m
4:51AM0.24m
5:18PM0.29m
5:35AM0.29m
6:04PM0.33m
6:21AM0.32m
6:51PM0.36m
7:08AM0.35m
7:40PM0.38m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:05
6:05
6:03
6:01
6:00
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:57
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
 mm
3
1
Temp °C
14
13
12
17
17
12
17
16
13
13
12
10
16
16
14
16
14
11
14
15
13
Feels °C
10
8
10
15
14
8
13
13
10
6
6
7
13
15
10
10
8
6
10
10
10
  • 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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