Whangara Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.58° S 178.21° E

Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 16 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangara sea temperature is
14.6° C
0.0° 

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


Whangara surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 16s period, ESE swell with 1,788 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period with ESE 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 17s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Thu 16th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Best Surf 3AM (Fri 17th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Fri 17th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Righto, let’s get into it. We got some solid action coming up at Whangara over the next week, but the back half of the outlook fades out pretty hard. No sense holding off—here’s how it’s shaping up.

The first real standout hits Friday morning the 17th. Whangara is a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed to the swell, and it’s lining up nicely. We’ve got a good 6ft swell from the ESE, and with a period of 16 seconds that’s some proper groundswell—good energy, long lines, but at a beach and reef it can get a bit straight when it’s that long. Still, the wind is light offshore out of the WNW at just 3 mph, so it’ll be clean and glassy. Combined energy is sitting at 1830 (moderate to strong), and for experienced surfers this is excellent. This is the pick of the whole forecast—big, clean, and punchy. Just be mindful, crowds are possible here, so don’t expect it empty.

If you miss that, Saturday morning the 18th is still very good, with 6ft from the same ESE direction, a 14-second period, and offshore NW wind at 6 mph. Energy drops to 1111 but it’s still strong and clean. Saturday afternoon stays decent too—5ft, cross-off breeze, clean again, though the swell starts easing.

Sunday the 19th brings a drop to 4ft, still clean morning with light cross-off wind, but energy is down to 572. Afternoon gets a cross-on breeze and it turns marginal. From Monday the 20th onward, the swell drops below 3ft mostly, with onshore winds and rain showers in the mix. The water temp anomaly isn’t flagged, so it’s about average for July—nothing weird going on.

There’s a real gap from around Monday arvo through to the end of the month. A few small pulses show up: Thursday the 23rd morning has a tiny 3ft from the south but it’s only ordinary, and Saturday the 25th morning has 3ft from the south—clean but weak. The last sniff of anything is Thursday the 30th with 3ft to 3ft from the ESE, but it’s onshore and choppy, so no good. Friday the 31st morning has 5ft from the SE, but the wind is cross and there’s chop. Not worth paddling out.

For the whole second week, nothing really offers clean, solid surf. The energy is low, the wind is messy, and the swell just doesn’t get going. If you’re committed, your window is Friday morning and Saturday morning.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
1
4
3
4
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
0
0
2
1
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)
0.8
ESE
15
1
ESE
17
1.6
ESE
16
1.9
ESE
16
1.9
ESE
15
1.8
ESE
15
1.7
ESE
14
1.6
ESE
14
1.4
SE
13
1.3
ESE
13
1.2
ESE
13
1.1
SE
12
0.9
ESE
12
0.9
ESE
12
0.9
ESE
11
0.7
ESE
11
0.7
ESE
11
1.6
SSE
8
1
SSE
7
0.7
SE
7
0.6
SE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
242
556
1321
1788
1654
1428
1111
985
721
572
437
336
247
218
183
107
109
273
108
45
37
Wind (km/h)
20
WNW
15
W
15
SW
5
WNW
5
ENE
10
NNW
10
NNW
5
NNW
10
SW
15
WSW
15
SSW
0
WNW
10
NNW
5
NE
10
SW
25
SW
20
SSW
10
W
5
NNW
5
E
10
NW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-on
off
off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross
glassy
off
glassy
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-on
off
High Tide
7:23PM1.72m
7:48AM1.58m
8:18PM1.70m
8:44AM1.56m
9:11PM1.67m
9:39AM1.52m
10:04PM1.61m
10:33AM1.49m
10:55PM1.54m
11:25AM1.44m
11:45PM1.47m
12:16PM1.40m
00:34AM1.40m
Low Tide
1:06PM-0.02m
1:45AM0.01m
2:03PM-0.02m
2:41AM0.01m
2:58PM0.01m
3:35AM0.02m
3:52PM0.06m
4:26AM0.06m
4:44PM0.12m
5:16AM0.11m
5:35PM0.19m
6:04AM0.16m
6:26PM0.25m
cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:20
7:20
7:20
7:18
7:18
7:18
7:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:05
5:06
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:08
 mm
2
3
Temp °C
16
17
14
12
12
11
13
15
11
11
13
12
14
15
11
12
12
9
11
12
10
Feels °C
13
14
11
11
11
10
11
14
8
8
10
10
12
13
9
7
7
6
9
10
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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