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Waihi Beach surf forecast
Waihi Beach is a long, sandy beach break at the foot of the Coromandel, with punchy rights and lefts you can surf almost anywhere along the shore. It faces north-east, so it lights up on north-east swell with a south-west wind.
Waihi Beach surf report, hour by hour
The table shows swell, wind and tide for Waihi Beach through the day. The beach faces north-east and takes swell from the north round to the south-east.
Updated 20:58next run 01:40Open-Meteo wave and wind models
06:00β10:00 Β· glassy
Today 3 Nov
Marginal 06-09: short weak swell, waist-chest, glassy.
Best window: 06:00β09:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 01:18
- Low
- 07:36
- High
- 13:53
- Low
- 20:18
- Sunrise
- 06:08
- Sunset
- 19:51
Every hour, 05β21
Tomorrow 4 Nov
Skip: the wind spoils it, chest-shoulder, onshore ENE.
Tide and daylight
- High
- 02:22
- Low
- 08:36
- High
- 14:56
- Low
- 21:17
- Sunrise
- 06:07
- Sunset
- 19:52
Every hour, 05β21
Thursday 5 Nov
Worth it 06-09, clean head-high, cross-offshore S.
Best window: 06:00β09:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 03:30
- Low
- 09:37
- High
- 15:53
- Low
- 22:17
- Sunrise
- 06:06
- Sunset
- 19:53
Every 3 hours
Friday 6 Nov
Worth it 06-10, clean chest-shoulder, glassy.
Kiwi's best shot: 06:00β10:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 04:26
- Low
- 10:33
- High
- 16:47
- Low
- 23:09
- Sunrise
- 06:05
- Sunset
- 19:54
Every 3 hours
Forecast point: Waihi Beach (-37.429, 175.963). Waves = estimated breaking height at the beach. Data: Open-Meteo wave and weather models (CC BY 4.0). Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information. Surf at your own risk.
Watch the wind direction first. A south-west wind blows offshore here.
Where to surf at Waihi Beach
The main beach runs for about 10 kilometres, so there is plenty of room to find your own peak. There are several peaks to choose from, with both lefts and rights. The northern end can also offer a left breaking off the rocks.
Main beach peaks
Beach breakAll levelsYou can surf anywhere along this stretch, picking between several sandy peaks that break both left and right. The wave is punchy and fun.
The beach is popular, so keep clear of swimmers and give locals room. The surf club area has facilities and parking. Sources: surfseeker.nz
Northern end left
Left off rocksNorthern endAt the northern end of the beach, a good left can break off the rocks.
Behind it sits Orokawa Scenic Reserve, with short coastal walking tracks. Sources: surfseeker.nz Β· en.wikipedia.org
Bowentown end
Southern endHarbour entranceThe southern end of Waihi Beach reaches the small settlement of Bowentown. It sits beside the northern Katikati entrance to Tauranga Harbour. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
What Waihi Beach needs to fire
These are the exact rules behind Kiwi's rating for this spot. Every hour of the forecast is scored on all four, then turned into a rating of 1 to 5 stars.
Swell
North-east swell is best
The beach faces north-east and picks up swell from the north round to the south-east. Surf Seeker also names north-east as the optimal swell direction.
Wind
South-west wind blows offshore
Offshore wind here comes from the south-west.
Tide
Mid tide is the sweet spot
Our forecast rates mid tide as best for Waihi Beach. Surf Seeker says it works on all tides.
Size
Best around 0.8β1.8 m
Waves from about 0.8 to 1.8 m suit the beach best. Below 0.5 m it is usually too small, and above 2.5 m it gets too big.
Shortcut: look for a north-east swell of around 1 m with a south-west wind, and aim for mid tide.
The best months to surf Waihi Beach
We replayed Kiwi's rating on every day of the last year and counted how often Waihi Beach's best window reached 4 or 5 stars.
NovβMarMost good days
This is the best run of the year, with roughly a third to almost half of days rated good, and up to 82% fair or better in February. The water is at its warmest, around 17β21Β°C.
AprβJunHit and miss
April is quiet, with only 7% good days, while May picks up to about 23%. The water cools from about 19.5 to 16Β°C.
JulβOctLeanest months
August and September are the slowest, with only 6β7% good days. Water drops to its coldest, near 14.6Β°C in August.
Before you go
Rips and swimmers
Rip currents are the main hazard on this beach, so check the water before you paddle out.
The beach is popular, so watch out for swimmers and know the rules. Sources: surfseeker.nz
Getting there
From Tauranga, head west on Takitimu Drive and State Highway 2, then follow Athenree, Steele, Emerton and Seaforth Roads to the coast. The drive takes about 50 minutes on sealed roads.
The town of Waihi lies about 10 kilometres to the west. Sources: surfseeker.nz Β· en.wikipedia.org
Parking and access
Follow Wilson Road and Beach Road, then turn onto The Esplanade at the roundabout and park near the surf club. There is parking at the beach and no long walk in. Sources: surfseeker.nz
Crowds and etiquette
Surf Seeker rates the crowd at 6 out of 10. Respect the locals. Sources: surfseeker.nz
Water temperature
In summer the sea sits around 19β21Β°C.
In winter it drops to about 15Β°C.
Before or after a surf
Orokawa Scenic Reserve at the northern end has short walking tracks along the coast to undeveloped Orokawa Bay. The Athenree mineral hot springs are nearby. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Where the numbers come from
The method
Kiwi takes Open-Meteo's wave and wind models (ECMWF WAM, MΓ©tΓ©o-France, NOAA GFS and Open-Meteo's best-match blend) at a point about 5 km off Waihi Beach. There is no buoy correction here yet: these are the models as they come.
Each hour is scored on the four rules above (swell, wind, tide, size). The stars are calibrated on a full year of data for New Zealand, so 4 stars at Waihi Beach is a genuinely good day by that country's standard.
What we can say
The season chart and the stars use the same rules, replayed on the archive: a month marked good was good by these rules, not by a surf report.
Without a buoy nearby, the size at the beach is our model's estimate, not a measurement.
Waihi Beach surf questions
Is Waihi Beach good for beginners?
Yes, it is a sandy beach break suited to all levels of surfer. Watch for rips and keep clear of swimmers.
When is the best time to surf Waihi Beach?
November to March has the most good days, with up to 45% rated good in March. August and September are the quietest months.
What wind is offshore at Waihi Beach?
A south-west wind blows offshore at Waihi Beach.
What tide is best at Waihi Beach?
Our forecast favours mid tide. Surf Seeker says the beach works on all tides.
How cold is the water in Waihi Beach in December?
The sea averages about 18.9Β°C in December.
Where can I park to surf Waihi Beach?
There is parking at the beach, and Surf Seeker suggests parking near the surf club on The Esplanade.
Check the Waihi Beach surf forecast before you go
Look at the hourly table for a north-east swell, a south-west wind and mid tide, then head for the peaks near the surf club.