Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period, S swell with 614 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whangara in the next 16 days are 1.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 13s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty again. Let's run through the same outlook in feet and knots for you lads.
Whangara (beach and reef) – The first few days are a bit of a slow start. Saturday morning we’re looking at a weak knee-high plus wave with light offshore wind, but the energy is anemic (43). Come Saturday afternoon, the game changes. A solid 4ft south swell with a 12-second period arrives, paired with light offshore northwest winds. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 419, and conditions are clean. That Saturday afternoon is the clear standout of the entire 16-day window. Sunday morning is still rideable with a 3ft south swell and moderate offshore wind, and Sunday afternoon is smaller but remains clean. Then we hit a long lull. From Monday the 24th through Thursday the 27th, it’s essentially flat or junk. Swell heights drop below 2ft, and energy numbers are in the weak range. The water temp is about average for the season. The next real highlight is Friday morning the 28th. Glassy conditions and a 3ft south groundswell with a very long 16-second period. The energy hits a solid 451, and it will be clean and powerful, best on the reef to handle those long-period lines. Saturday the 29th keeps the momentum with a clean 4ft south swell Saturday morning. Into the second week, from the 30th onward, it’s back to smaller, less exciting surf. A few 2ft to 2ft pulses, but nothing gets the heart racing. Energy stays low, mostly under 100. Winds are often offshore but light. There’s a pulse on Friday, September 4th, but with fresh cross-shore winds whipping up a lumpy mess, it’s not one to pencil in. The biggest gap of poor surf runs from Monday the 24th through Thursday the 27th – four straight days of flat to tiny junk.
Bottom line: your best bet is Saturday afternoon the 22nd, or hold out for that glassy Friday morning the 28th. That Friday setup has real long-period groundswell, so the reef will be your friend – the beach might see those lines close out a bit.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 16 | SE 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 16 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SSE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 185 | 39 | 387 | 237 | 146 | 73 | 33 | 34 | 83 | 45 | 42 | 31 | 15 | 44 | 43 | 51 | 13 | 13 | 219 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 4:51AM1.28m | 5:18PM1.39m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:01AM0.29m | 11:36PM0.31m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 7 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | N 4 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 13 |
| kJ | 673 | 480 | 387 | 237 | 146 | 73 | 9 | 169 | 394 | 669 | 669 | 411 | 198 | 136 | 92 | 773 | 1094 | 529 | 726 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 16 | S 15 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | SSW 16 | S 17 | S 16 | SSE 5 | S 17 | S 14 | S 18 |
| kJ | 78 | 39 | 18 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 83 | 648 | 42 | 31 | 86 | 217 | 193 | 51 | 283 | 416 | 219 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | E 14 | E 14 | ESE 11 | NE 13 | NE 13 | SSE 9 | N 5 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | NNE 4 | NNE 10 | ESE 12 | SE 13 | SE 13 | S 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 185 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 35 | 45 | 3 | 10 | 15 | 44 | 43 | 22 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | NW 2 | — | WNW 2 | NNW 3 | N 4 | W 4 | SSW 9 | — | N 4 | — | — | NW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 16 | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 3 |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 14 | 12 | 318 | — | 15 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 817 | — | — | 2 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 11 | 19 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 40 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Whangara surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest