Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, S swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, S swell with 11,437 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. 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 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 6.0m 14s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.
It’s been a quiet start, with hardly anything to get excited about. The first few days are a write-off, but stick with me because there’s a decent pulse coming in.
We’re looking at Whangara, a beach and reef set-up that's fairly exposed. The water temperature is about what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing wild.
The first real window of opportunity arrives on Friday, 28 August morning. The swell fills in from the south at 5.2ft, with a period of 13 seconds - that’s proper groundswell, with some real energy behind it (combined energy of 910). The wind is a light offshore from the north, keeping things clean. This is the standout of the whole outlook. The swell direction is coming from the south, which is a little off the optimum, but with that size, period, and clean conditions, it’s going to be firing. There’ll be some lulls between sets, but that just makes it easier to get out back. By the afternoon, the wind picks up and the swell drops a touch, so make the most of the morning.
Saturday, 29 August is still surfable, with the swell dropping to 3ft in the morning, but it’s a step down in quality. Winds are still cross-off from the north, keeping it clean enough for a fun session, but nothing special.
We get a bit of a flat spell early in the week with some strong winds on Monday, 31 August, making a mess of things. Then on Wednesday, 2 September, another solid push arrives. The morning sees a 5.6ft swell from the south-southeast, with a period of 10 seconds, and combined energy of 609. The wind is dead calm, glassy offshore from the west-northwest, so it’ll be absolutely clean. This one is a bit more of a short-period swell, so it won’t have the same grunt as the 13-second groundswell, but with that size and perfect wind, it’s a very good option. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy as the wind shifts onshore.
Thursday, 3 September afternoon is worth a mention too. The swell drops to 3.9ft, but the period stretches to 11 seconds, and the wind is clean cross-off from the west-northwest. It’s a solid, clean day.
The rest of the second week is a mix of clean but small waves, or onshore breezes, nothing that really jumps out. The Monday morning of 7 September has a weird 4.6ft northerly swell with a 6-second period, which is pure windswell, not great for much.
Overall, the best bet is the Friday, 28 August morning session at Whangara. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The 2nd of September morning is your second-best option. The rest of the 16 days is mostly small or ordinary, but those two windows will deliver.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Wed morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sat afternoon, near gales from the SSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | N 6 | NNE 7 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NNE 9 | NE 10 | NE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
39 | 43 | 42 | 38 | 14 | 24 | 1723 | 888 | 526 | 347 | 213 | 160 | 300 | 81 | 50 | 37 | 32 | 45 | 55 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:02AM1.26m | 4:32PM1.35m | 4:51AM1.28m | 5:18PM1.39m | 5:38AM1.31m | 6:03PM1.42m | 6:24AM1.34m | 6:47PM1.45m | 7:09AM1.38m | 7:31PM1.47m | 7:54AM1.42m | 8:14PM1.49m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:57PM0.37m | 10:13AM0.32m | 10:47PM0.35m | 11:01AM0.29m | 11:36PM0.31m | 11:48AM0.26m | 00:22AM0.26m | 12:35PM0.23m | 1:07AM0.22m | 1:21PM0.20m | 1:51AM0.18m | 2:07PM0.18m | 2:35AM0.15m | ||||||
— | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 |
Feels °C | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | S 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NNE 9 | S 12 | S 12 |
164 | 304 | 470 | 288 | 899 | 1925 | 1723 | 888 | 526 | 347 | 213 | 160 | 146 | 81 | 50 | 37 | 32 | 2321 | 1045 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | S 11 | S 11 | N 8 | N 8 | SSW 16 | NE 10 | NE 11 |
127 | 104 | 42 | 38 | 14 | 24 | 13 | 13 | 33 | 30 | 44 | 42 | 119 | 59 | 29 | 22 | 53 | 45 | 55 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 13 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | — | NE 10 | SE 15 | — | NE 9 | NE 9 | S 16 | SE 12 | NE 9 | SSE 10 | SE 12 | NNW 9 | SE 11 | — |
39 | 43 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 9 | — | 3 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 28 | 35 | 5 | 8 | 5 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 2 | SW 3 | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | N 6 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | SW 7 | S 10 | — | SW 4 |
— | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | 5 | 18 | 87 | 53 | 130 | 126 | 300 | 8 | 9 | 198 | 2078 | — | 42 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 35 | 35 | 17 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 109 | 51 | 11 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











