Catlins River Mouth Surf Break

Lat Long: 46.48° S 169.72° E

Catlins River Mouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Catlins River Mouth sea temperature is
10.6° C
1.5° 

Catlins River Mouth surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Catlins River Mouth surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with 10,400 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period with ENE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Catlins River Mouth this week:

The surf forecast for Catlins River Mouth over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.8m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 16s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Catlins River Mouth in the next 16 days are 5.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Wed 12th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 9s
Best Surf 3AM (Tue 18th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 3PM (Tue 18th Aug)16ft (5.0m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Catlins River Mouth over the next 16 days.


Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Wed morning, calm by Thu morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Mon morning, min 4°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sat night, fresh winds from the WSW by Mon night).

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
3
3
2
2
3
3
4
2
1
4
4
4
4
4
1
2
!
!
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
ENE
8
3
ENE
8
1.7
E
9
1.1
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
19
1.7
SSW
18
2.3
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
16
2.3
SSW
15
2.2
SSW
15
2
SSW
15
3
SW
14
3
SW
13
1.1
SSW
13
3
SW
11
5
SSW
14
5
SSW
15
4
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
422
1289
463
673
575
422
375
1664
2686
3237
3393
2450
2020
1785
3913
2961
440
2418
8499
10400
6852
Wind (km/h)
35
NE
30
NE
10
NNW
5
NW
10
E
10
NNW
5
NNW
10
NE
10
WNW
20
SW
20
SSW
10
W
15
WNW
15
WNW
15
W
20
W
30
WSW
30
WSW
30
WSW
30
WSW
25
W
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
2:35PM2.50m
2:53AM2.52m
3:24PM2.54m
3:40AM2.55m
4:10PM2.54m
4:26AM2.55m
4:54PM2.51m
5:12AM2.50m
5:36PM2.45m
5:58AM2.43m
6:19PM2.37m
6:46AM2.34m
7:05PM2.28m
Low Tide
8:46PM0.63m
9:10AM0.49m
9:33PM0.59m
9:58AM0.49m
10:19PM0.61m
10:44AM0.55m
11:04PM0.67m
11:30AM0.65m
11:49PM0.76m
12:16PM0.79m
00:36AM0.88m
1:03PM0.94m
1:25AM1.00m
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:47
7:45
7:43
7:41
7:39
7:39
7:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:52
5:52
 mm
1
1
2
1
1
Temp °C
10
11
9
12
11
9
10
12
9
6
7
5
7
8
9
10
10
10
10
11
10
Feels °C
2
4
6
11
9
7
7
9
6
0
1
1
2
3
5
5
4
3
4
6
5
  • 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
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Catlins River Mouth:

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 Catlins River Mouth 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 Catlins River Mouth Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Catlins River Mouth provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Catlins River Mouth can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Catlins River Mouth 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 (Catlins River Mouth) 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 Catlins River Mouth 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.

Catlins River Mouth is 91 km (57 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