
Surf Forecasts:
Whangara surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, S swell with 7,719 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 17s. 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 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) 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 5.5m 12s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whangara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s see what we’ve got cooking for the next block of days.
Right off the bat, it’s a rough start. Tuesday and Wednesday are a write-off with strong, cross-shore winds and tiny, weak swell. The wave energy is pathetic (37 to 14 for the combined energy). You’re better off staying home and waxing your board.
Things start to look up on Thursday the 6th of August. The morning session at Whangara (beach and reef) sees a solid 10ft south swell with a decent 11-second period. The wind is a clean cross-offshore, and the combined energy is a proper 2102. It’s a touch on the big side for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of experience, it’s looking good. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
Friday the 7th of August brings a real standout. The morning has a 6ft south-southeast swell, but the real magic is that 3 mph WNW wind, almost glassy. The waves will be clean as a whistle. The afternoon has a longer period groundswell coming in at 16 seconds from the south, pushing the energy up to 2143. That long period means the sets will be fat and powerful, and at a beach and reef setup like Whangara, it might wall up a bit. It’s a quality session, but watch the tide.
Now, the pick of the bunch is Saturday the 8th of August. The morning is firing: 7ft of south swell, a 13-second period, and a solid 9 mph offshore wind from the WNW. That’s 1789 units of energy, and the forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” It’s a bit over the 5ft mark, so it’s not for the groms. The offshore wind will groom it into perfection. The afternoon holds up too, still clean and offshore at 6ft.
Sunday the 9th is a morning mission only. The wind goes light offshore, and there’s a 5ft south swell, but the energy drops to 612. It’s cleaner then, but it fades fast. The afternoon turns into a mess with cross-onshore wind.
The following week is a sad story. From Monday the 10th right through to the 19th, the wind is either howling onshore or cross-shore, making a mess of the 2ft to 5ft slop. The combined energy is mostly under 500, just weak, lumpy junk. It’s a long, blank stretch.
However, the very end of the outlook has a glimmer. Wednesday the 19th of August shows a 8ft south swell, a 12-second period, and a light 6 mph offshore wind from the west. The combined energy jumps to 1612, and it’s marked as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a promising call, but it’s over a week away, so take it with a grain of salt.
So, to put it simply: Friday morning and Saturday the 8th of August are your best bets. Saturday morning, with that 7ft south swell and offshore wind, is the standout. Don’t bother with the rest of the first week unless you’re desperate.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 11°C on Mon night, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon night, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
109 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 6178 | 3413 | 2041 | 973 | 524 | 540 | 1434 | 2127 | 1339 | 957 | 594 | 466 | 381 | 432 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:25PM1.46m | 9:49AM1.38m | 10:08PM1.46m | 10:35AM1.40m | 10:54PM1.46m | 11:24AM1.43m | 11:44PM1.46m | 12:16PM1.46m | 00:38AM1.46m | 1:13PM1.49m | 1:36AM1.46m | 2:12PM1.52m | 2:36AM1.47m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:48AM0.20m | 4:02PM0.22m | 4:31AM0.18m | 4:49PM0.22m | 5:17AM0.17m | 5:38PM0.22m | 6:05AM0.16m | 6:32PM0.21m | 6:58AM0.15m | 7:28PM0.20m | 7:54AM0.13m | 8:28PM0.19m | |||||||
— | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 6 | 0 | -2 | -4 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | — | — | SE 16 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
461 | 23 | 14 | 14 | — | — | 41 | 2041 | 973 | 524 | 540 | 1434 | 2127 | 1339 | 957 | 594 | 466 | 381 | 432 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SE 14 | — | — | — | — | NE 18 | SE 15 | S 11 | S 10 | S 18 | S 10 | SE 13 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SE 15 | N 4 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 |
109 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 57 | 403 | 458 | 390 | 499 | 202 | 334 | 277 | 58 | 12 | 217 | 395 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | E 18 | — | — | — | — | NE 18 | NE 11 | SE 13 | SSE 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | NE 14 | SE 12 | SE 11 | E 12 | SSE 14 | N 9 | NNE 6 |
66 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 4 | 173 | 40 | 158 | 210 | 8 | 116 | 60 | 3 | 134 | 55 | 13 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | S 8 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | W 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | N 5 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 |
2 | 1207 | 2879 | 5417 | 8397 | 6178 | 3413 | 2834 | 1198 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 5 | 55 | 3 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 17 | 95 | 108 | 109 | 109 | 110 | 35 | 20 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 28 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











