Whangara Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.58° S 178.21° E

Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 08 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangara sea temperature is
13.8° C
0.5° 

Whangara surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Whangara surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s period, S swell with 1,031 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 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 08) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 1.9m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) 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 2.4m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sat 8th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 12s
Best Surf 6PM (Sat 8th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 12s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sat 8th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty.

Look, we’ve got a mixed bag coming up here for Whangara. The first week is a bit of a slow burn, with some small windows of clean surf, but nothing to get too worked up about. The real story is in the second week, where we see a massive pulse of energy that’s going to be a handful.

We kick off on Saturday, the 8th of August. The morning is the pick of the day. We’ve got a solid 7ft swell from the south, with a long period of 13 seconds, and a light WNW breeze keeping it glassy. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The wave energy is strong, clocking in at 1796. This is excellent for experienced surfers – that long period groundswell will be wrapping into the point and reef, offering some proper lines. The afternoon turns a bit onshore from the northeast, so it’ll get a bit lumpy.

Sunday the 9th is a step down in size to 5ft, but still clean with a north wind. The period drops to 11 seconds, but the energy is still moderate at 803. It’s a good, manageable morning. By the afternoon, the swell drops to 3ft but the period stretches out to 14 seconds, with a light cross-offshore breeze. It’ll be glassy and clean.

Monday the 10th is small and clean in the morning, 3ft from the south, but by the afternoon the wind goes glassy and the swell drops to 3ft. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Tuesday the 11th is similar, with a clean 3ft morning, but the afternoon turns onshore and messy.

Wednesday the 12th through Friday the 14th is a write-off, with rising wind and messy, short-period swell. There’s a brief window on Friday afternoon, the 14th, with a glassy 4ft from the east, but that’s about it.

Now, we hit a real gap from the 15th to the 17th where the surf is just poor. Small, weak, and windy.

Then things get interesting. On Tuesday the 18th of August, a massive swell hits. We’re talking 15ft from the south, with a period of 14 seconds and energy readings of 7402 and 6904. That is huge. The problem is the wind is howling from the southwest at 22 to 25 mph, creating a messy, lumpy cross-chop. This is not for paddling; this is a kite surfer’s dream. The swell is too big and the wind too strong for any kind of enjoyable paddle surfing.

This huge swell lingers through Wednesday the 19th (10ft) and Thursday the 20th (12ft), but the wind stays strong and cross-shore. The forecast even notes that the swell is too big for this break. It’s a no-go for the average surfer.

The only real standout in the whole run is Sunday the 23rd of August. After a long stretch of rubbish, we get a clean 6ft south swell with a 10-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW. The wave energy is a solid 883. It’s going to be clean, with some good lines. This is the best option on offer, but it’s a long way out, so keep your fingers crossed.

So, to sum it up: the first week has a few clean, small windows for the experienced crew. The middle of the period is a dud. The big swell in the second week is too wild for paddling, but Sunday the 23rd looks like a proper session if the forecast holds.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 7°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NE by Thu morning).

Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
2
0
2
2
1
1
0
0
1
0
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
S
13
2
S
12
1.6
S
11
1.5
S
11
1.3
S
11
1.3
S
12
1
S
11
0.9
SSE
10
1.1
SSE
12
1
SSE
12
1
SSE
11
1.2
S
11
0.8
SE
10
1.4
SE
9
1.2
SE
10
1
SE
8
1.8
NE
6
1.5
NE
6
1.8
NE
6
1.3
E
7
1.6
ESE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1298
1179
663
545
390
497
229
167
386
289
239
345
118
353
262
136
239
170
265
183
341
Wind (km/h)
10
WNW
10
NE
10
NW
10
N
10
N
10
N
10
W
5
W
15
SW
10
WSW
15
S
10
WNW
10
NNE
20
NE
25
NNE
30
NE
25
NE
20
NNE
15
NE
5
NNW
10
NNW
Wind State
off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
1:13PM1.49m
1:36AM1.46m
2:12PM1.52m
2:36AM1.47m
3:13PM1.56m
3:37AM1.49m
4:13PM1.59m
4:38AM1.51m
5:12PM1.63m
5:37AM1.53m
6:08PM1.65m
6:34AM1.54m
7:03PM1.66m
Low Tide
7:28PM0.20m
7:54AM0.13m
8:28PM0.19m
8:52AM0.11m
9:29PM0.16m
9:52AM0.09m
10:31PM0.13m
10:52AM0.06m
11:31PM0.09m
11:51AM0.03m
00:29AM0.06m
12:48PM0.02m
1:24AM0.04m
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
mod rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:01
7:01
6:58
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:27
5:28
5:29
 mm
3
1
6
1
7
1
1
Temp °C
10
11
10
14
14
13
15
17
12
12
12
10
12
13
12
13
14
14
14
14
12
Feels °C
7
7
6
11
12
11
12
15
9
9
8
9
8
9
7
8
10
12
12
14
10
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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