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Cannibal Bay Surf Forecast
/ Catlins (9 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Cannibal Bay surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Wednesday 29 Apr 2026 NZSTForecast 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
13.8° C
(Which is 2.8°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 Thursday (Apr 30) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cannibal Bay in the next 16 days are 4.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Apr 30) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 5s period and expected on Friday (May 01) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 30th Apr) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 30th Apr) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 30th Apr) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cannibal Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 1 | Saturday 2 | Sunday 3 | Monday 4 | Tuesday 5 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
SSW 17 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | |
499 | 4391 | 2629 | 1887 | 1303 | 690 | 874 | 1418 | 1024 | 785 | 406 | 245 | 202 | 184 | 208 | 159 | 411 | 342 | 282 | 158 | 151 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | off | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | |
High Tide | 1:48AM2.36m | 2:07PM2.40m | 2:26AM2.38m | 2:46PM2.41m | 3:03AM2.37m | 3:24PM2.39m | 3:39AM2.35m | 4:02PM2.36m | 4:14AM2.30m | 4:40PM2.31m | 4:49AM2.24m | 5:20PM2.24m | 5:28AM2.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:38PM0.85m | 7:58AM0.85m | 8:20PM0.88m | 8:38AM0.87m | 8:59PM0.92m | 9:16AM0.90m | 9:37PM0.97m | 9:54AM0.93m | 10:14PM1.02m | 10:31AM0.98m | 10:52PM1.07m | 11:09AM1.02m | 11:31PM1.11m | 11:50AM1.05m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 |
 | 5:39 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:30 | — | 5:30 |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 17 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 9 |
10 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 5 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
 kJ | 499 | 2721 | 2629 | 1887 | 1303 | 690 | 874 | 1418 | 1024 | 785 | 406 | 245 | 202 | 184 | 208 | 159 | 411 | 342 | 282 | 158 | 151 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | E 10 | — | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | E 9 | ENE 4 | E 5 |
| kJ | 212 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | 95 | 40 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 28 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 13 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 8 | — | — | NE 9 | — | E 9 | ENE 6 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | — | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 4 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 3 | 4391 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 23 | 7 | 11 | 38 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 58 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Catlins | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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