
Surf Forecasts:
Whatipu surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 5,569 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whatipu this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Whatipu in the next 16 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whatipu over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Whatipu. The first week and a half is pretty grim for surfing. There’s plenty of size, but the wind is a mess – mostly onshore or cross-onshore, just tearing the waves apart. The swell energy is huge at times, over 3000 (moderate to strong energy) and even up to 4618 (strong energy) on the 19th, but with the wind howling it’s just a lumpy, choppy, and sometimes dangerous situation. The water temp is 58°, which is a touch colder than normal (anomaly of -0.9°F), so you’ll want a full wetsuit.
From Thursday the 16th through to Sunday the 27th, it’s a rough stretch. Thursday morning kicks off with a 8ft WSW swell (15-second period, a long-period groundswell) but the cross-on breeze makes it all a bit choppy. The strong winds stick around, and by the weekend of the 18th and 19th, we’ve got SW swells of 8ft to 10ft with 15-16 second periods, but the wind is onshore at 12-15 mph, making it look more like a kitesurfing session than a paddle session. The wave energy is massive (over 10000), but it’s all “poor surf conditions”. Most days are scoring 0 or 1 out of 10 – you’d be better off staying home.
The first real chance doesn’t come until Tuesday the 28th morning. That’s when we finally see a change: a clean 6ft WSW swell (13-second period) with a light cross-offshore breeze. The energy is a modest 862 (weak to moderate), but the conditions are “clean”. That’s a solid morning. Wednesday the 29th is the absolute standout. The morning has a 5ft WSW swell (16-second period – very long-period groundswell) with a light offshore wind from the NE, making it clean. The afternoon gets even better: the swell drops to 5ft, the wind goes glassy from the WSW, and the energy is 1246 (moderate). That afternoon is your best bet – quiet, clean, and lined up. A long-period swell like this will be better for the point and reef setups, as it might break a bit straight at the beach.
Thursday the 30th is also worth a look, with 4ft waves and clean conditions, though the energy drops. Friday the 31st offers more size: 10ft of swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds (windswell), and while the wind is offshore, it’s breezy at 12-15 mph. The energy jumps to 2521 (strong), but that short period will make it a bit lumpy and less lined up. Still, a decent option for a bigger wave.
For the best on offer, I’d be locking in Wednesday the 29th afternoon – glassy, 5ft of clean, long-period swell, and a 3/10 rating. Tuesday the 28th morning is a close second. This spot (Whatipu) can be inconsistent, so don’t expect magic every day, but when it comes together like that, it’s worth the wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Tue morning). 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 | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3241 | 2813 | 2207 | 2015 | 3004 | 3573 | 3326 | 3051 | 5282 | 4618 | 3668 | 2665 | 2053 | 1710 | 1144 | 1216 | 1180 | 803 | 540 | 463 | 448 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:23AM3.24m | 11:47PM3.36m | 12:10PM3.24m | 00:32AM3.32m | 12:55PM3.20m | 1:15AM3.23m | 1:38PM3.10m | 1:57AM3.10m | 2:21PM2.97m | 2:40AM2.92m | 3:07PM2.81m | 3:25AM2.73m | 3:57PM2.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:40PM0.27m | 6:06AM0.21m | 6:25PM0.29m | 6:50AM0.25m | 7:08PM0.37m | 7:34AM0.35m | 7:51PM0.50m | 8:17AM0.49m | 8:36PM0.65m | 9:03AM0.65m | 9:24PM0.82m | 9:52AM0.82m | 10:18PM0.97m | ||||||||
7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | |
— | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 18 | — | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
3241 | 2813 | 2207 | 2015 | 3004 | 3573 | 3326 | 3051 | 785 | — | 3668 | 2665 | 2053 | 1710 | 1144 | 1216 | 1180 | 803 | 540 | 463 | 448 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 22 | — | WSW 20 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 38 | 35 | 31 | 102 | 100 | 142 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5282 | 4618 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 131 | 124 | 11 | 52 | 81 | 52 | 81 | 81 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 11 | 90 | 125 | 125 | 42 | 142 | 90 | 29 | 11 | 142 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Whatipu Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Whatipu provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whatipu can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whatipu 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 (Whatipu) 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 Whatipu 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.
Whatipu is 17 km (11 miles) from the city of Auckland. If you plan a holiday in Auckland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Auckland. Auckland has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










