Whangara Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.58° S 178.21° E

Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 07 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangara sea temperature is
13.6°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 7 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, S swell with 1,836 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whangara in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 9AM. 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 12s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Tue 8th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Best Surf 9AM (Tue 8th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 9AM (Tue 8th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Right then, let’s take a look at what’s on offer. The first decent surf we’ll see is a bit of a wait, but it’s shaping up to be a ripper of a morning. The week starts quiet, so be patient.

Tuesday the 8th of September is a write-off. A big 12 ft southerly swell with a fresh cross-shore wind is not your friend, it’s a washing machine. The combined energy is a massive 1905 – that’s serious power. It’s way too big and messy for a paddle. Kite surfers might be frothing, but for us, it’s a hard no.

We finally get a window Wednesday the 9th. The morning sees a cleaner 6 ft SSE swell with a light cross-offshore breeze. The water is about average for this time of year, and the combined energy has dropped to a moderate 368. It’s not epic, but it’s surfable and the conditions are right. The afternoon gets smaller and messier, so aim for the early session.

Thursday the 10th looks promising. A clean 3 ft SE swell under a light offshore wind from the NW. The energy is weak at 140, but the glassy conditions will make it fun on the points. The morning is the pick.

After that, we hit a dry spell. From Friday the 11th right through to the 18th, there’s barely a ripple. The swell drops to nothing, with weak energy readings in the double digits or low hundreds. It’s a proper flat spell, so don’t bother checking it until the following week.

The next real hope comes on Sunday the 20th of September. The morning brings a clean 4 ft S swell with a gentle offshore blow from the NNW. The combined energy is a moderate 333. The wind is light and clean, making for a tidy session. It’s not a giant, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

Then, on Wednesday the 23rd of September, get this one in the diary. The forecast shows a 4 ft SE swell, but the magic is in the wind – glassy. Absolutely flat calm. The combined energy is a solid 460, suggesting some real push. This is a standout. The swell is a long 12-second period groundswell, which will wrap nicely into the bay. It’s a genuine gem, and it’s worth the wait. The conditions will be perfect, and if you can get a few waves to yourself, you’ll be smiling for a week.

Alright, that’s the long and short of it. The second week has a couple of windows, but that Wednesday the 23rd is the one to really keep an eye on.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon night, light winds from the WSW by Wed morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Fri afternoon, calm by Sat afternoon).

Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
!
0
3
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
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
9
3.5
S
9
2.5
S
9
2.3
SSE
8
1.7
SSE
8
1.5
SE
8
1.1
SE
8
0.9
SE
8
0.4
NE
14
0.6
SE
7
0.4
NE
13
0.5
NE
8
0.5
NE
7
0.4
NE
13
0.4
NE
13
1.6
S
9
0.3
NE
12
0.4
NE
12
0.4
NE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
613
1836
1080
671
348
289
155
94
55
33
60
35
25
44
43
380
23
53
37
Wind (km/h)
40
SW
30
SW
30
SW
15
WSW
10
WSW
15
ENE
10
NW
15
NW
15
WNW
10
NW
15
SW
30
SSW
10
WNW
10
NW
10
SSE
5
NW
15
WNW
10
ESE
10
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
off
on
off
cross-off
on
cross-off
High Tide
2:23AM1.44m
2:57PM1.54m
3:24AM1.45m
3:57PM1.56m
4:24AM1.46m
4:54PM1.57m
5:22AM1.48m
5:49PM1.58m
6:16AM1.51m
6:41PM1.58m
7:08AM1.52m
7:30PM1.57m
Low Tide
8:37AM0.14m
9:16PM0.17m
9:37AM0.12m
10:16PM0.14m
10:36AM0.11m
11:14PM0.11m
11:34AM0.10m
00:09AM0.08m
12:29PM0.09m
1:00AM0.07m
1:21PM0.10m
1:49AM0.07m
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:13
6:13
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:51
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:54
 mm
5
1
2
1
Temp °C
11
10
11
9
13
12
9
16
16
12
12
11
10
13
13
10
17
14
13
Feels °C
8
3
5
4
10
8
6
13
12
9
8
5
7
10
10
8
15
12
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Whangara:

join our community of surf reporters

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 locationNearest