Motunau Beach Surf Break

Motunau Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 43.06° S 173.07° E

Issued: 5 pm 11 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Motunau Beach sea temperature is
12.4° C

2.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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


Motunau Beach surf forecast from 11 Jun 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Friday 12 Jun, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, SE swell with 75 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Motunau Beach this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Motunau Beach in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jun 12) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jun 17) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful12AM (Fri 12th Jun)2ft (0.6m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue morning, near gales from the NW by Tue night).

Thu
11
Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SE
12
0.6
SE
11
0.4
SE
10
0.3
SE
10
0.1
SE
14
0.3
SE
13
0.3
SE
11
0.2
SSE
10
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
ESE
13
0.1
S
15
0.5
SSW
3
0.2
SSE
17
0.1
S
16
0.1
SE
11
0.2
SSE
14
0.2
SSE
13
0.2
SSE
14
0.2
ESE
12
0.6
WSW
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
172
75
25
15
7
26
18
12
15
14
16
5
6
28
5
4
19
17
21
14
8
Wind (km/h)
15
NE
10
WNW
5
WNW
5
SSE
10
NNE
5
WNW
5
SSE
10
NNE
10
NW
15
W
15
NNW
10
N
25
SSE
15
W
5
NW
20
NNE
25
WNW
15
S
5
SSW
15
NNE
15
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
off
cross
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
off
cross-on
High Tide
1:14AM1.69m
1:47PM1.78m
2:09AM1.74m
2:42PM1.89m
3:05AM1.79m
3:38PM1.98m
4:02AM1.83m
4:35PM2.04m
4:59AM1.86m
5:32PM2.08m
5:56AM1.87m
6:29PM2.07m
6:54AM1.86m
Low Tide
7:03PM0.25m
7:26AM0.17m
7:59PM0.20m
8:20AM0.11m
8:58PM0.14m
9:17AM0.05m
9:57PM0.09m
10:14AM-0.00m
10:56PM0.05m
11:13AM-0.04m
11:55PM0.03m
12:12PM-0.05m
00:53AM0.01m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
light rain
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:56
7:56
7:56
7:56
7:56
7:58
7:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:58
4:58
4:58
4:58
4:58
4:58
4:58
4:58
 mm
1
13
2
2
4
Temp °C
11
9
12
13
10
11
12
10
14
17
15
15
10
8
9
11
12
10
8
8
8
Feels °C
7
7
9
10
8
8
10
7
10
13
11
12
5
4
6
7
1
6
6
5
3
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SE
12
0.6
SE
11
0.4
SE
10
0.3
SE
10
0.1
SE
9
0.3
SE
13
0.3
SE
11
0.2
SSE
10
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
ESE
13
0.1
SE
11
0.2
ENE
4
0.4
SE
5
0.2
SSE
4
0.2
SSE
4
0.3
NE
3
0.2
SSE
11
0.2
SSE
11
0.2
ENE
4
0.3
NE
8
Energy kJ
172
75
25
15
3
26
18
9
15
14
16
5
1
10
2
1
2
11
11
2
11
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
16
0.4
NE
4
0.1
NE
4
0.1
NE
4
0.1
SE
18
0.1
SE
17
0.1
SE
12
0.1
SE
9
0.1
SE
12
0.1
E
13
0.2
N
3
0.2
SSE
17
0.1
SE
11
0.1
SE
11
0.2
SSE
14
0.2
SSE
13
0.2
SSE
14
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
SSE
4
Energy kJ
5
3
1
1
13
12
6
3
6
3
1
28
5
4
19
17
21
14
2
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
18
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
16
0.1
SE
14
0.1
SE
17
0.1
SE
17
0.1
SE
17
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
15
0.1
SE
13
0.1
SE
12
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
10
0.1
SE
9
0.1
E
13
0.2
ESE
13
0.1
SE
10
0.1
SE
11
Energy kJ
6
5
5
7
12
12
11
5
4
6
6
5
2
3
3
16
4
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
NNE
2
0.5
N
3
0.5
N
3
0.5
SSW
3
0.2
WSW
2
0.3
WSW
3
0.4
NNW
3
0.7
N
4
0.9
N
4
0.6
WSW
4
Energy kJ
1
5
6
4
1
1
3
13
27
8
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
19
1
1
28
1
1
81
81
1
1
1
1
151
1
1
81
1
57
27
81
67
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
1
1
1
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
6
6
9
8
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
  • 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 Motunau Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Motunau Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Motunau Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Motunau Beach 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 (Motunau Beach) 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 Motunau Beach 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 Canterbury? If you are looking for accommodation near Motunau Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Canterbury, consider staying in Christchurch which is 64 km (40 miles) away.

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