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Surf Forecasts:

Punakaiki surf break

Punakaiki surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Wednesday 03 Sep 2025 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Punakaiki surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Punakaiki sea temperature is
12.8° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Punakaiki this week:

The surf forecast for Punakaiki over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 03) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Punakaiki in the next 12 days are 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 03) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 8s period and expected on Friday (Sep 05) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Wed 3rd Sep)6.5ft (2.0m) 15s
Best Surf 6PM (Wed 3rd Sep)6.5ft (2.0m) 15s
Most Powerful12PM (Wed 3rd Sep)8ft (2.4m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Punakaiki over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the NW by Fri night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon afternoon, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat morning, calm by Mon night).

Wednesday
03
Thursday
04
Friday
05
Saturday
06
Sunday
07
Monday
08
Tuesday
09
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
2
2
1
1
1
0
0
2
4
3
3
2
1
2
2
2
3
1
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.3
W
2.2
W
1.7
W
1.3
W
1.4
WNW
1.6
W
2.4
NW
1.7
WSW
2
W
2.5
W
1.4
WSW
2.3
W
1.4
WSW
2.1
W
1.9
W
1.7
W
1.5
W
1.2
W
1.2
W
2.1
W
2.5
WNW
Period(s) (?)12151514141481314815121499131313101212
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy (?)20942182124170382210581346179019371661160719351673128998598775946834212881989
Wind
(km/h)
5
W
10
W
5
NE
20
NE
25
NNE
30
NW
30
NW
25
NNW
35
NW
30
SW
10
S
10
ENE
10
SSW
10
SW
10
SSW
15
SW
10
SW
5
W
15
NNE
25
NNE
30
NNW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
ononglasscross-
off		cross-
off		crosscrosscrosscross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		offcross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		ononglasscross-
off		cross-
off		cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
7:28PM
2.16
8:00AM
2.21
8:22PM
2.34
8:50AM
2.39
9:07PM
2.55
9:33AM
2.57
9:49PM
2.75
10:14AM
2.74
10:29PM
2.92
10:53AM
2.87
11:10PM
3.03
11:34AM
2.94
11:51PM
3.07
Low Tide
/ height (m)
1:10PM
0.89
1:44AM
0.77
2:08PM
0.73
2:37AM
0.56
2:55PM
0.54
3:21AM
0.34
3:38PM
0.34
4:03AM
0.14
4:19PM
0.16
4:44AM
-0.02
4:59PM
0.02
5:24AM
-0.11
5:40PM
-0.05
Wednesday
03
Thursday
04
Friday
05
Saturday
06
Sunday
07
Monday
08
Tuesday
09
Sunrise6:56--6:56--6:54--6:52--6:50--6:48--6:47--
Sunset-6:10--6:12--6:13--6:14--6:15--6:15--6:16-
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
heavy rain
mod rain
mod rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
Rain (mm)
-----1278911-1242-131130
Temp. °C1111101213141413131010871010111211111314
Feels °C (?)888691188736446781098910
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for West Coast South Island

  1. weather stationWind Update Continuing clean conditions at Punakaiki (light winds from the SE at WestportAeroAws 46 km from Punakaiki). 2.5m 12s groundswell from the W with a 1.2m 16s long period groundswell, also from the W. 2 swells combining so expect closeout sets.

    1 hour 19 minutes ago Punakaiki
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46 km away, 1 h 19 min ago

6 km/h
SE
0.0
12.8
Air / Water (°C)
Please reload the page to see if there are any updates.

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Punakaiki surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Punakaiki at:
surf-forecast.com

Information about the Punakaiki Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Punakaiki provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Punakaiki can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Punakaiki 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 (Punakaiki) 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 Punakaiki 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.

Punakaiki is 186 km (116 miles) from the city of Nelson. If you plan a holiday in West Coast South Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Nelson. Nelson has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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