Whangamata Bar
Whangamata Bar is New Zealand's most celebrated beach break left—a river mouth wave on the Coromandel Peninsula that transforms into a world-class barrel machine when cyclone swells wrap into its perfectly angled shoreline. The wave offers a steep drop-in, a heavy barrel section, and enough length to make every successful ride feel earned. The river mouth channel provides a paddle-out path but also generates powerful currents that add to the intensity. Summer holidays see the lineup packed, but catch it at the right moment and Whangamata delivers waves that match anything on Earth.
Whangamata Bar surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to TRG, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Pacific is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Pacific — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Whangamata Bar trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NE (45°)
- Direction range
- 20° - 80°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.6m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.92×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (230°)
- Offshore range
- 190° - 270°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low
- Optimal range
- 0.2m - 1m
Water temp
19°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
8/10
Access: 1hr from Tauranga. On Highway 25 on Coromandel Peninsula.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Whangamata Bar?
Whangamata Bar is a point break in Coromandel, New Zealand, that mostly breaks left.
What swell works best at Whangamata Bar?
Whangamata Bar picks up swell from the NNE round to the E, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NE. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.6 to 2.1m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Whangamata Bar?
A SW wind is dead offshore at Whangamata Bar, and anything from the S round to the W keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Whangamata Bar?
Whangamata Bar is at its best around low tide, roughly 0.2m to 1m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Whangamata Bar?
The most reliable run of swell at Whangamata Bar comes Nov to Mar. There's a second window in Apr to May and Oct too. Best in summer with NE swells. Works on cyclone swells.
How cold is the water at Whangamata Bar?
The water at Whangamata Bar averages around 19°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Whangamata Bar good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. It gets busy (crowd 8/10), so mind the pecking order. Strong river mouth currents. Very crowded in summer holidays.
How do I get to Whangamata Bar?
The nearest airport on our list is TRG, then it's roughly a one-hour drive. 1hr from Tauranga. On Highway 25 on Coromandel Peninsula.
What other surf spots are near Whangamata Bar?
The closest breaks we track are Mount Maunganui (55 km), handy when Whangamata Bar isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Apr, May, Oct
Best in summer with NE swells. Works on cyclone swells.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Mount Maunganui
⛰️ All-day offshores • Bay of Plenty gem • Easy-access quality
Takapuna Reef (North Reef)
🥝 Lefts and rights • Reef • NE swell, Auckland east
O'Neills Reef
🥝 Left-hand reef • NE swell magnet • Auckland east
Milford Reef
🥝 Lefts and rights • Reef • NE swell, Auckland east
Long Bay Reef
🥝 Lefts and rights • Reef • NE swell, Auckland east
Raglan
🥝 New Zealand's finest • Black sand point breaks • 300m rides
Plan a trip around Whangamata Bar
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.