
Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, SSE swell with 4,814 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period with E 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 (Jul 04) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. 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 4.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) 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 1.9m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 05) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sat 4th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 6th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, let’s break this down.
First up, the only break on the radar is Whangara, a beach and reef setup that’s fairly consistent and exposed to ENE swell. The water’s sitting at 57°F – that’s about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
We’ve got a slow start. No real standout sessions until Saturday the 4th of July, but even that morning is just a taste. Saturday morning brings a clean 6ft E swell with a 12-second period and a light offshore breeze off that NNW wind. The combined energy reads 767 – solid moderate. That’s a proper little window. The wind’s light, the surf is clean, and it’s the best early call. Crowds can be around sometimes, so get in early.
Saturday afternoon the wind swings NNE and picks up, turning it cross-off but marginal. Not worth chasing.
Sunday the 5th stays average – rain showers, messy winds, short-period junk. Skip it.
Now, Monday the 6th of July is a big one, but not for paddling. The morning brings a 12ft NNE swell with only 8 seconds of period and a combined energy of 2767 – strong. That’s too big for this break and the wind is cross-off. This is more of a kite session. Afternoon drops to 8ft but it’s cross-shore and choppy.
Tuesday the 7th of July is the real gem. Morning and afternoon both glassy, with that sweet 5–6ft E swell, 10-second period, and 715 combined energy. Glassy conditions, offshore flow from the west in the morning, and then light ESE in the arvo. This is the standout of the whole run. Clean, consistent, and fun.
After that, things go downhill. Wednesday the 8th through Friday the 10th get windy, messy, or too big. Thursday the 9th has some 5–5ft E swell but cross-shore winds kill the vibe.
Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th get ugly – strong cross-onshore winds, 7–15ft swell, and combined energy climbing over 4000. That’s all heavy and messy. Not for the average surfer.
Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th stay marginal with strong winds and lumpy sea states.
Then, Tuesday the 14th of July brings another glassy window. Morning and afternoon both glassy, with 7–7ft ESE swell and 10-second period, combined energy around 1000. That’s moderate but clean. A solid option if you can wait that long.
Wednesday the 15th keeps it clean in the morning with a 5ft E swell and light offshore NW wind, but the wave energy drops to 522 – still fun. Afternoon gets a bit messier.
Thursday the 16th is small but glassy – 4ft E swell, 10-second period, 341 combined energy. Worth a paddle if you’re after something mellow.
Then we hit the second week, and it gets interesting again. Friday the 17th of July shows a big 10ft SE groundswell with a very long 17-second period, combined energy of 4770 – that’s strong, but the wind is cross and messy. That’s a powerful swell but not clean. Saturday the 18th of July is the real long-range standout: a 7ft SE swell with a 14-second period, light cross-off NNE wind, and combined energy of 1850. The guidance says excellent for experienced surfers, and the direction matches the optimum ENE. This one’s promising but it’s a week and a half out, so keep an eye on it.
Sunday the 19th fades out with onshore winds and dropping swell.
The best windows overall: Tuesday the 7th of July (glassy, clean 5–6ft E) and Tuesday the 14th of July (glassy, 7–7ft ESE). Saturday the 18th of July is a big wave option for experienced surfers but too far out to lock in.
No other breaks to compare – Whangara is it, and it delivers a few proper clean moments.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
749 | 526 | 365 | 288 | 280 | 294 | 1594 | 722 | 334 | 463 | 535 | 668 | 1007 | 872 | 702 | 533 | 459 | 615 | 776 | 1817 | 4322 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:12PM1.43m | 9:31AM1.30m | 9:53PM1.42m | 10:14AM1.30m | 10:34PM1.42m | 10:59AM1.32m | 11:18PM1.42m | 11:47AM1.35m | 00:06AM1.43m | 12:38PM1.39m | 00:59AM1.44m | 1:34PM1.44m | 1:55AM1.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:01PM0.25m | 3:36AM0.27m | 3:43PM0.26m | 4:17AM0.26m | 4:26PM0.27m | 4:59AM0.24m | 5:10PM0.27m | 5:43AM0.22m | 5:58PM0.26m | 6:29AM0.19m | 6:50PM0.25m | 7:20AM0.16m | 7:46PM0.22m | ||||||||
7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | |
— | 4:57 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 4:59 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | 4 | — | 7 | 6 | 6 | 16 |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 18 | — |
749 | 526 | 365 | 288 | 247 | 196 | 981 | 466 | 334 | 463 | 535 | 668 | 1007 | 872 | 702 | 533 | 459 | 615 | 776 | 60 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 16 | S 16 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | SSW 18 | — | — |
16 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 188 | 354 | 244 | 252 | 179 | 57 | 60 | 99 | 147 | 58 | 45 | 23 | 64 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | N 10 | — | S 16 | S 12 | — | S 15 | S 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 14 | — | — |
2 | 2 | — | 5 | 3 | — | 4 | 9 | 71 | 41 | 38 | 38 | 26 | 25 | 52 | 31 | 52 | 42 | 14 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | S 6 | S 7 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
9 | 28 | 99 | 172 | 280 | 294 | 1594 | 722 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 102 | 177 | 209 | 241 | 1817 | 4322 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 19 | 11 | 19 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 17 | 35 | 35 | 51 | 107 | 110 |
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.










