Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, S swell with 502 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m 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 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 14s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. Whangara’s the only spot in the frame, and it sits fairly exposed to the east-northeast, which is good news when the swell comes in from the south. Water temps are around 56°, right about normal for this time of year – nothing unusual.
The week ahead runs quiet, really quiet. Thursday the 20th is a write-off – small, messy, cross-shore wind, poor surf. Not worth paddling out. Friday the 21st morning is where things flicker to life. We’ve got a clean 3ft south swell rolling in with a very long 17-second period under light offshore WNW wind. That’s proper groundswell, and the wave energy is strong – 803 (in brackets). The point and reef setup here should handle that long period nicely. It’s a standout window: clean, well-shaped, and just enough size. Friday afternoon stays clean but the wind turns cross and the swell drops – still surfable but not as crisp.
After that, it fades. Saturday the 22nd offers a tiny 2ft in the morning, then a clean 4ft south swell in the afternoon with offshore wind – okay but small. Sunday the 23rd is ordinary with offshore wind but only 3ft dropping to 2ft. Then from Monday the 24th through to about Monday the 31st, the swell is tiny – 1.0ft or less, mostly clean but way too small to surf. A few days like Saturday the 29th have onshore wind and rain. There’s a real gap there of about a week with nothing worth chasing.
Now here’s the big one. On Tuesday 1st September morning, Whangara goes off. A south groundswell comes in at 10ft with a 13-second period, total wave energy screaming in at 2795 (in brackets). Glassy conditions – light north wind. That’s for experienced surfers only – too big for beginners. Wednesday 2nd September pushes even bigger with 12ft south swell both morning and afternoon, energy over 3900, but the notes say it’s too big even for this break – that’s proper heavy, expert-only territory. Thursday 3rd September morning still has a solid 8ft south-southeast swell, clean, and energy over 2000 – still expert territory. Friday 4th September morning drops to 6ft, very clean, and the energy is 1120 – that’s the sweet spot for strong, well-shaped waves without the intimidation factor.
So the best on offer? Friday 21st August morning for the clean, long-period south swell that’s accessible to a broader range. And if you’re a charger, the morning of Tuesday 1st September through Thursday 3rd September is the real deal – just be ready for heavy, powerful surf.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | ESE 9 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | ESE 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 20 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | S 8 | S 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
288 | 221 | 148 | 346 | 502 | 185 | 31 | 387 | 237 | 144 | 71 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 369 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 34 | 25 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | on | off | off | on | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 11:39AM1.41m | 11:58PM1.37m | 12:27PM1.37m | 00:46AM1.32m | 1:15PM1.34m | 1:34AM1.29m | 2:05PM1.32m | 2:23AM1.27m | 2:54PM1.32m | 3:13AM1.26m | 3:44PM1.33m | 4:02AM1.26m | 4:32PM1.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:52PM0.27m | 6:13AM0.26m | 6:39PM0.32m | 6:59AM0.30m | 7:27PM0.36m | 7:46AM0.33m | 8:16PM0.38m | 8:35AM0.34m | 9:07PM0.39m | 9:23AM0.34m | 9:57PM0.37m | 10:13AM0.32m | 10:47PM0.35m | ||||||||
6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ESE 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | N 4 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 17 |
288 | 221 | 411 | 268 | 456 | 673 | 480 | 387 | 237 | 144 | 71 | 9 | 101 | 397 | 2863 | 1190 | 668 | 274 | 81 | 34 | 216 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSW 13 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | S 16 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 20 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 9 |
521 | 222 | 138 | 189 | 502 | 78 | 31 | 18 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 369 | 6 | 4 | 53 | 110 | 98 | 25 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 14 | S 17 | S 17 | ESE 10 | S 16 | E 15 | E 14 | SE 11 | NE 13 | NE 13 | N 9 | NNE 6 | S 18 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | SSW 10 | ESE 13 |
— | 18 | 148 | 346 | 192 | 185 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 26 | 36 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 31 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | WNW 3 | NNW 3 | N 4 | W 4 | W 3 | — | NNE 11 | N 4 | — | N 4 | W 3 | NNE 3 | NNW 2 |
749 | 559 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 6 | 3 | 19 | 12 | 6 | — | 12 | 22 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 24 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 61 | 0 | 12 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 |
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.











