Whangara Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.58° S 178.21° E

Whangara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whangara sea temperature is
13.9° C
0.4° 

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


Whangara surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, S swell with 3,834 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whangara in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 12s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Fri 31st Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 11s
Best Surf 9PM (Tue 4th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 9PM (Tue 4th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Righto, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our patch. We’ve got a pretty decent run of surf coming, but the first few days are a bit of a teaser before the real action hits. The water is sitting at 57°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing out of the ordinary there.

Let’s kick off on Thursday, July 30th, at Whangara. We’re looking at a 5ft swell from the ESE (12 sec period) with a light NNW offshore breeze. That’s clean, glassy stuff, and the wave energy is a solid moderate 618. The morning is the pick, with the afternoon dropping a touch to 5ft and the wind going cross-offshore. It’s not huge, but it’s the first proper surf and it’s tidy.

Friday, July 31st, the swell drops a little to 3ft in the morning and 3ft in the afternoon, but we’ve got a steady NW offshore wind at 12 mph. The period holds at 11 seconds, so the waves will have some shape. Energy is moderate (283/320). It’s a smaller, clean day – good for a longboard or a funboard.

Now, Saturday, August 1st, is a write-off. The swell collapses to 2ft from the SE with a long 16-second period, but a strong SW cross-wind at 15-18 mph messes it up. Poor conditions. Save your energy.

Sunday, August 2nd, is the standout. The morning brings a clean 8ft swell from the south (12 sec period) with a light WSW cross-offshore breeze. The energy jumps to a strong 2183. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – it’s a bit much for beginners. The afternoon is still 8ft but the wind swings cross-onshore, making it a bit lumpy. Get in the water early.

Monday, August 3rd, is still good. The swell drops to 6ft-7ft from the south, with a moderate WNW cross-offshore wind. The period is 11-13 seconds, and energy is moderate to strong (872/1332). The waves are solid, clean, and there’s a bit of power behind them. It’s a good follow-up day.

Tuesday, August 4th, is a mixed bag. The morning is tiny at 1ft from the NE – not worth a paddle. The afternoon, however, kicks up to a big 8ft south swell with a 14-second period, and the energy is very strong at 3032. But the wind is a messy cross-shore, so it’s a bit of a choppy beast. This one is for the experienced crew only and conditions are questionable.

The middle of the week, from Wednesday, August 5th, through to Thursday, August 6th morning, there’s still solid south swell around (8ft-10ft), but the wind is strong and cross-shore, making it lumpy and poor. The Thursday morning of the 6th is a brief window of 5ft south swell with a light west cross-offshore wind and clean conditions – that’s a good pick for a quick session.

From Friday, August 7th, things get a bit weird. The Friday morning is clean with a 3ft south swell, but the afternoon brings a 10ft SSE swell with a short 8-second period and onshore wind – messy. Then Saturday, August 8th, is a real treat for the experts: a glassy 10ft SSE swell (9 sec period) in the morning with the wind dead calm. The energy is very strong at 1388. That’s a big, clean, powerful day. The afternoon is still 10ft but the onshore wind picks up again.

After that, from Sunday, August 9th, through to the end of the 16 days, the surf gets smaller and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore from the east and northeast. The swell is often middling to poor, and conditions are choppy or lumpy. There are a few marginal windows, but nothing that’s going to get the heart racing. The energy values drop off significantly after the 8th.

So, the best on offer is clearly the morning of Sunday, August 2nd, for that clean, powerful 8ft south swell. The morning of Saturday, August 8th, is also a standout for the big, glassy 10ft swell, but that’s a week and a half away and a bit less certain. The Thursday morning, July 30th, is your best bet for a clean, manageable start.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Tue night).

Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
2
2
1
0
0
0
4
2
3
2
2
0
0
1
!
0
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
ESE
12
1.4
ESE
11
1.3
ESE
11
1
ESE
11
0.9
ESE
11
0.7
ESE
11
0.6
SE
16
0.6
SE
16
0.6
SE
14
2.5
S
12
2.5
S
12
2
S
11
1.9
S
11
2
S
13
0.2
S
22
0.3
NE
12
2.5
S
14
3.5
S
13
3
S
13
2.5
S
13
2.1
S
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
612
469
387
263
217
126
151
151
123
2058
1673
987
850
1305
39
23
3009
3834
2660
2272
1248
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
15
NNW
15
N
20
NW
20
NW
20
WNW
25
SW
30
SW
20
SW
10
WSW
10
SSW
10
NW
25
WNW
15
WNW
20
W
25
SSW
25
SSW
30
WSW
35
SSW
30
SW
15
W
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
6:37PM1.42m
6:54AM1.32m
7:20PM1.44m
7:38AM1.33m
8:02PM1.45m
8:21AM1.34m
8:43PM1.46m
9:05AM1.36m
9:25PM1.46m
9:49AM1.38m
10:08PM1.46m
10:35AM1.40m
10:54PM1.46m
Low Tide
12:21PM0.26m
00:55AM0.29m
1:06PM0.24m
1:40AM0.27m
1:50PM0.23m
2:23AM0.24m
2:33PM0.22m
3:06AM0.22m
3:17PM0.22m
3:48AM0.20m
4:02PM0.22m
4:31AM0.18m
4:49PM0.22m
cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
rain showers
cloud
light rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
light rain
clear
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:11
7:09
7:09
7:07
7:07
7:05
7:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:16
5:16
5:17
5:19
5:20
5:21
 mm
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Temp °C
15
16
13
15
15
11
8
9
8
9
11
9
14
16
13
9
9
8
7
8
7
Feels °C
11
12
9
10
11
6
2
2
2
5
7
6
9
12
7
4
3
1
-2
1
2
  • 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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