Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 23ft (7.0m), 13s period, S swell with 15,298 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s 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 19) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 11s 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 7.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 6.5m 13s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 23ft (7.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer here. The forecast is a bit of a mixed bag for Whangara, a beach and reef setup. The water temp is sitting at 56°, which is about 1° cooler than average for this time of year, so nothing too wild, just a touch of that winter chill.
The first real chance to get a wave in doesn’t come until Saturday morning, the 15th of August. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is a light cross-onshore. It’s only a marginal call, and the combined energy is moderate at 714. The swell period is a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit on the messy side, but it’s something to paddle out for if you’re keen.
The next week gets a bit tricky. There’s a big pulse of swell coming through on Tuesday the 18th, with an 18ft southerly swell at 11 seconds. That’s some serious energy, with a combined energy of 6546, but the wind is a strong cross-shore from the SSW, making it an ugly, messy onshore situation. That’s not for the faint of heart, and honestly, for most of us, it’s going to be a no-go. The conditions are genuinely poor.
The standout of the whole outlook is shaping up for Friday morning, the 21st of August. The sky is clear, the wind is a light cross-offshore from the west at 6 mph, and we’ve got a 5ft southerly swell with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a solid 695, and the wave comment is calling for “very good surf conditions.” This looks like the best session on offer. The swell direction is a bit off the optimum for Whangara, which prefers ENE, but the clean conditions and moderate-sized swell make it a winner.
After that, it tapers off. Saturday the 22nd has a small 3ft southerly swell with an offshore breeze, but it’s only 9 seconds and the energy is weak at 224. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. The following week, from the 23rd onwards, the swell drops right off into the tiny stuff, with the occasional offshore wind but barely any wave height. Friday the 28th of August has a small 3ft easterly swell with a 12-second period and a gentle offshore wind, so it’ll be clean and good for a longboard, but it’s not going to get your heart pumping.
So, to sum it up: the best bet is Friday morning, the 21st of August. The rest of the window is either blown out, too big and messy, or just too small. The crowds at Whangara can be around sometimes, but on the standout day, it’ll be worth the company.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 51mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Fri night, fresh winds from the SW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Mon night, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 176 | 84 | 370 | 436 | 1080 | 1383 | 694 | 782 | 479 | 262 | 169 | 190 | 110 | 74 | 13586 | 6546 | 5603 | 4892 | 0 | 0 | 2499 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:08PM1.65m | 6:34AM1.54m | 7:03PM1.66m | 7:29AM1.55m | 7:55PM1.65m | 8:22AM1.54m | 8:46PM1.61m | 9:13AM1.52m | 9:35PM1.56m | 10:03AM1.49m | 10:24PM1.49m | 10:52AM1.45m | 11:11PM1.43m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:51AM0.03m | 00:29AM0.06m | 12:48PM0.02m | 1:24AM0.04m | 1:42PM0.03m | 2:17AM0.03m | 2:35PM0.06m | 3:07AM0.05m | 3:27PM0.10m | 3:55AM0.09m | 4:16PM0.15m | 4:42AM0.14m | 5:05PM0.21m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | |
 | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — |
mm | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 0 | -1 | -2 | -3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | — | E 9 | — | — | — | SE 12 |
| kJ | 176 | 84 | 51 | 28 | 16 | 1162 | 694 | 782 | 479 | 262 | 169 | 190 | 110 | 74 | 35 | — | 16 | — | — | — | 35 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 14 | SSE 9 | ESE 13 | SSW 18 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 12 |
| kJ | 70 | 60 | 14 | 25 | 20 | 8 | 17 | 31 | 250 | 202 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | ESE 14 | SE 12 | S 15 | SE 8 | SE 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 17 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 57 | 497 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | — | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 8 | S 11 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | 59 | 160 | 370 | 436 | 1080 | 1383 | — | — | — | 162 | 1529 | 6518 | 9091 | 13588 | 13586 | 6546 | 5603 | 4892 | 4727 | 4558 | 2499 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 19 | 20 | 64 | 95 | 20 | 51 | 51 | 28 | 110 | 110 | 108 | 107 | 107 | 306 | 109 | 110 | 110 | 109 | 109 | 35 |
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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