Cannibal Bay surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Tuesday 14 Apr 2026 NZST
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
14.3° C
(Which is 2.9°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 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Apr 15) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cannibal Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Apr 21) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Apr 15) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Wed 15th Apr)2ft (0.6m) 13s
Best Surf 9PM (Sun 19th Apr)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 3PM (Tue 21st Apr)11ft (3.5m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cannibal Bay over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed morning, strong winds from the WNW by Wed night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
0
1
0
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
1
0
!
1
2
2
!
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.5
E
1.1
E
1.1
S
1.3
S
1.1
SSE
2.5
SW
1.9
SW
1.7
SW
0.9
SSW
0.9
SSW
0.9
SSW
0.7
SSW
0.6
SW
0.5
SSW
0.4
SSW
2
S
3
SSE
2.3
SSE
2.2
SSE
2.2
SE
3
SE
Period(s) (?)1010101010138816151614141615109881010
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)48921923930624022014793814303773821861671478573013317136358461914
Wind
(km/h)
15
WSW
15
WNW
15
NW
15
NW
35
WNW
40
WSW
35
WSW
25
W
15
N
5
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNE
10
WSW
10
W
20
S
15
SSW
10
S
10
SSE
10
E
20
E
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
offoffoffcross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:52AM
2.31
1:09PM
2.38
1:36AM
2.40
1:54PM
2.48
2:20AM
2.48
2:39PM
2.55
3:04AM
2.52
3:27PM
2.58
3:50AM
2.53
4:18PM
2.57
4:39AM
2.50
5:12PM
2.51
5:32AM
2.43
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:44PM
0.83
7:06AM
0.83
7:29PM
0.75
7:49AM
0.75
8:14PM
0.69
8:33AM
0.68
9:00PM
0.67
9:19AM
0.65
9:46PM
0.69
10:07AM
0.64
10:36PM
0.73
10:58AM
0.67
11:28PM
0.80
11:53AM
0.73
Tue
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Sunrise--7:16--7:18--7:18--7:20--7:22--7:22--7:24
Sunset6:05--6:04--6:01--6:00--5:58--5:57--5:54--
clear
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
---82131--5314212-----
Temp. °C1491414910111012141111121010988999
Feels °C (?)106111132348131191077434554
  • 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
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Cannibal Bay:

join our community of surf reporters

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 Cannibal Bay 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.


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 16 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest