Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 16s period, ESE swell with 1,788 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. 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 1.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 17s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 16th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s get into it. We got some solid action coming up at Whangara over the next week, but the back half of the outlook fades out pretty hard. No sense holding off—here’s how it’s shaping up.
The first real standout hits Friday morning the 17th. Whangara is a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed to the swell, and it’s lining up nicely. We’ve got a good 6ft swell from the ESE, and with a period of 16 seconds that’s some proper groundswell—good energy, long lines, but at a beach and reef it can get a bit straight when it’s that long. Still, the wind is light offshore out of the WNW at just 3 mph, so it’ll be clean and glassy. Combined energy is sitting at 1830 (moderate to strong), and for experienced surfers this is excellent. This is the pick of the whole forecast—big, clean, and punchy. Just be mindful, crowds are possible here, so don’t expect it empty.
If you miss that, Saturday morning the 18th is still very good, with 6ft from the same ESE direction, a 14-second period, and offshore NW wind at 6 mph. Energy drops to 1111 but it’s still strong and clean. Saturday afternoon stays decent too—5ft, cross-off breeze, clean again, though the swell starts easing.
Sunday the 19th brings a drop to 4ft, still clean morning with light cross-off wind, but energy is down to 572. Afternoon gets a cross-on breeze and it turns marginal. From Monday the 20th onward, the swell drops below 3ft mostly, with onshore winds and rain showers in the mix. The water temp anomaly isn’t flagged, so it’s about average for July—nothing weird going on.
There’s a real gap from around Monday arvo through to the end of the month. A few small pulses show up: Thursday the 23rd morning has a tiny 3ft from the south but it’s only ordinary, and Saturday the 25th morning has 3ft from the south—clean but weak. The last sniff of anything is Thursday the 30th with 3ft to 3ft from the ESE, but it’s onshore and choppy, so no good. Friday the 31st morning has 5ft from the SE, but the wind is cross and there’s chop. Not worth paddling out.
For the whole second week, nothing really offers clean, solid surf. The energy is low, the wind is messy, and the swell just doesn’t get going. If you’re committed, your window is Friday morning and Saturday morning.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 15 | ESE 17 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 242 | 556 | 1321 | 1788 | 1654 | 1428 | 1111 | 985 | 721 | 572 | 437 | 336 | 247 | 218 | 183 | 107 | 109 | 273 | 108 | 45 | 37 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-on | off | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | glassy | off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 7:23PM1.72m | 7:48AM1.58m | 8:18PM1.70m | 8:44AM1.56m | 9:11PM1.67m | 9:39AM1.52m | 10:04PM1.61m | 10:33AM1.49m | 10:55PM1.54m | 11:25AM1.44m | 11:45PM1.47m | 12:16PM1.40m | 00:34AM1.40m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:06PM-0.02m | 1:45AM0.01m | 2:03PM-0.02m | 2:41AM0.01m | 2:58PM0.01m | 3:35AM0.02m | 3:52PM0.06m | 4:26AM0.06m | 4:44PM0.12m | 5:16AM0.11m | 5:35PM0.19m | 6:04AM0.16m | 6:26PM0.25m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — |
 | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 15 | ESE 17 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | S 21 | S 19 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 15 | S 19 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 |
| kJ | 242 | 556 | 1321 | 1788 | 1654 | 1428 | 1111 | 985 | 2528 | 2065 | 1555 | 1121 | 602 | 847 | 1783 | 1861 | 2353 | 1305 | 1042 | 806 | 504 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 5 | S 8 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 30 | 30 | 25 | 18 | 88 | 434 | 268 | 269 | 721 | 572 | 437 | 336 | 247 | 218 | 163 | 107 | 109 | 273 | 108 | 45 | 37 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 10 | — | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 15 | SSW 20 | S 25 | S 10 | — | — | — | S 18 | S 19 | ESE 11 | — | — | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 10 | — | 24 | 44 | 221 | 38 | 309 | 158 | — | — | — | 418 | 173 | 183 | — | — | 76 | 42 | 44 | 27 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | NNW 10 | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 10 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 34 | 8 | 8 | 17 |
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.
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