Whangara Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.58° S 178.21° E

Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangara sea temperature is
14.5° C
0.1° 

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


Whangara surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with 3,786 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period with ESE 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 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m 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 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) 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 2.2m 19s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sun 12th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Best Surf 6AM (Sun 19th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 17s
Most Powerful 6AM (Sun 19th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 17s

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


Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the line for Whangara.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the waiting game pays off. The water temp is sitting right around average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

The first few days are pretty ordinary. Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th offer small, surfable waves but nothing to get excited about – weak, unimpressive energy. Tuesday the 14th is a write-off with tiny, poor surf. Wednesday the 15th stays small but has a moment of magic with a glassy morning session, though the wave height is minimal.

The real standout arrives on Friday the 17th of July. Whangara switches on in a big way. The morning brings a clean 6ft groundswell from the ESE with a long 15-second period, and offshore NNW winds. The energy is strong (1305). That’s a solid, powerful wave that’s going to offer some great shape. The afternoon gets even better: the swell jumps to 7ft, still clean with the same offshore wind, and the energy is very strong (1972). This is excellent, punchy surf for experienced surfers, but it's a proper size, so it's not for the faint-hearted.

Saturday the 18th is a mixed bag; the swell is still there but strong SW winds mess it up, turning it into a lumpy, cross-shore mess. Sunday the 19th of July is another standout. A clean, offshore NW wind greets a 8ft S groundswell with a 16-second period – that's a long-period groundswell packing a punch (3517 energy). This is big, powerful, and clean for the experts. The afternoon holds up well too, with a slight drop in size but still a very good wave.

After that, the surf drops again and the winds turn onshore, making for poor conditions through the start of the following week. Tuesday the 21st is a washout with strong onshore winds.

Then we hit a massive, dangerous swell event. From Wednesday the 22nd of July through to Saturday the 25th, the swell is just colossal – 13ft to 20ft of raw, churning energy. The wind and tide conditions are actually favorable at times, but the size is so extreme it’s way too big, even for this break. This is a major event, and only for the most elite, and even then, it’s more of a survival mission than a fun session. The setup would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The forecast finally calms down on Sunday the 26th of July. The morning delivers a clean 8ft ESE swell with a light offshore W wind – that’s a solid, well-shaped wave for strong surfers. The energy is strong (1528). The window extends into Monday the 27th with a clean 8ft ESE swell and light offshore NW winds, another excellent option for experienced surfers.

So, the two standout days are Friday the 17th and Sunday the 19th of July. Friday offers the best combo of size, long period, and clean offshore wind for a full day of quality waves. Sunday is a touch bigger and more powerful, also an absolute cracker for the experts. The later window on the 26th and 27th is also promising, but it's further out so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
4
4
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
ESE
9
1.2
ESE
9
1.2
ESE
10
0.9
ESE
9
0.8
ESE
9
0.7
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
12
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.4
ESE
13
0.6
ESE
14
0.9
ESE
17
1.3
ESE
16
1.7
ESE
15
2.1
ESE
15
2.1
ESE
15
1.9
ESE
14
1.7
ESE
14
1.4
SE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
264
207
246
145
99
67
46
25
79
61
59
56
158
419
904
1275
1972
1937
1427
1159
732
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
10
S
10
WNW
10
NNW
10
NNE
10
N
10
N
10
NNW
10
NW
10
WNW
5
NW
15
WNW
10
WNW
5
SE
10
WNW
10
NNW
10
NNW
20
WNW
30
SW
35
S
15
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
glassy
off
cross-off
on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
3:31PM1.56m
3:54AM1.52m
4:30PM1.62m
4:54AM1.55m
5:29PM1.67m
5:53AM1.57m
6:27PM1.70m
6:51AM1.58m
7:23PM1.72m
7:48AM1.58m
8:18PM1.70m
8:44AM1.56m
9:11PM1.67m
Low Tide
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
1:45AM0.01m
2:03PM-0.02m
2:41AM0.01m
2:58PM0.01m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:20
7:20
7:20
7:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:01
5:02
5:02
5:04
5:05
5:06
5:06
 mm
1
1
1
Temp °C
11
11
9
13
14
13
15
15
13
16
18
15
16
16
13
16
17
11
11
10
11
Feels °C
8
8
7
10
11
9
12
13
11
14
17
11
14
14
12
14
15
7
4
2
5
  • 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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