Cannibal Bay surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Monday 08 Dec 2025 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Cannibal Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Cannibal Bay sea temperature is
13.1° C
(Which is 2.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cannibal Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Cannibal Bay over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Dec 09) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cannibal Bay in the next 12 days are 2.3m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Dec 13) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 7s period and expected on Monday (Dec 15) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Tue 9th Dec)2ft (0.6m) 7s
Best Surf 4AM (Sat 13th Dec)7.5ft (2.3m) 12s
Most Powerful 4AM (Sat 13th Dec)7.5ft (2.3m) 12s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue night, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Wed afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the WSW by Thu night).

Monday
08
Tuesday
09
Wednesday
10
Thursday
11
Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sun
14
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.5
SW
0.5
SW
0.9
SW
0.6
SSW
0.4
SE
0.6
SE
0.5
SW
0.5
SE
0.4
SSW
0.9
SW
0.9
SSW
0.9
SW
0.8
SW
2.1
SW
1.9
SSW
2.1
WSW
1.6
SSW
1.1
S
0.8
S
0.8
SE
0.8
SE
Period(s) (?)151477121114101615151514981277699
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)104103813639791035298309387326248654488123628011453114109
Wind
(km/h)
10
W
25
WSW
20
S
10
NNE
10
NNE
20
ENE
10
N
15
WSW
30
SW
5
NW
20
NE
35
NE
30
WNW
35
WSW
35
SW
15
W
15
WSW
15
SSW
5
N
10
NE
30
ENE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
crossglasscrosscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
glasscrosscross
High Tide
/ height (m)
6:19AM
2.49
6:37PM
2.43
7:13AM
2.41
7:34PM
2.36
8:08AM
2.33
8:33PM
2.29
9:05AM
2.25
9:33PM
2.24
10:05AM
2.20
10:33PM
2.20
11:03AM
2.17
11:29PM
2.19
11:56AM
2.17
Low Tide
/ height (m)
12:01AM
0.64
12:29PM
0.79
12:57AM
0.68
1:24PM
0.84
1:54AM
0.75
2:20PM
0.90
2:51AM
0.82
3:17PM
0.96
3:48AM
0.90
4:15PM
1.02
4:43AM
0.97
5:12PM
1.06
5:36AM
1.04
6:06PM
1.08
Monday
08
Tuesday
09
Wednesday
10
Thursday
11
Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sun
14
Sunrise-5:41--5:41--5:41--5:41--5:41--5:41--5:41-
Sunset--9:22--9:22--9:23--9:24--9:25--9:27--9:28
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
4------1---12--------
Temp. °C181514121618191516121213111111101413111315
Feels °C (?)159881116151191056722411910910
  • 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

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Information about the Cannibal Bay Surf forecast

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

Cannibal Bay is 88 km (55 miles) from Dunedin. If you plan a holiday in Catlins, look for hotels and other accommodation in Dunedin. Dunedin has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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