Colac Bay surf break

Colac Bay surfForecast / Southland / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Saturday 16 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Colac Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Colac Bay sea temperature is
13.0° C
(Which is 1.7°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Colac Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Colac Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 18s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Colac Bay in the next 16 days are 2.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 23) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (May 19) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sun 17th May)5ft (1.5m) 16s
Best Surf12AM (Sun 17th May)5ft (1.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sat 23rd May)6.5ft (2.0m) 15s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
0
1
2
1
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
WSW
17
1.5
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
13
1
W
16
1
W
14
1.1
W
14
1.1
W
13
1.5
W
12
1.1
W
12
1
W
12
1.3
W
11
1
W
11
0.6
W
11
0.4
WSW
16
1
WSW
12
1
W
12
1.1
WSW
13
2
WSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
908
1038
536
507
282
229
509
417
476
417
667
356
278
381
231
85
84
318
294
424
1644
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
5
NNW
5
NW
5
WSW
5
N
10
N
5
SW
10
N
10
NNE
10
NNE
10
N
15
N
10
N
10
N
15
NNE
15
NE
20
NNE
5
NNW
25
WSW
20
SW
10
SW
on
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
High Tide
00:57AM2.55m
1:27PM2.64m
1:49AM2.56m
2:22PM2.62m
2:42AM2.53m
3:19PM2.56m
3:38AM2.47m
4:17PM2.48m
4:38AM2.39m
5:16PM2.38m
5:42AM2.32m
6:18PM2.29m
6:47AM2.27m
Low Tide
6:59PM0.36m
7:20AM0.26m
7:50PM0.36m
8:13AM0.23m
8:42PM0.37m
9:07AM0.24m
9:37PM0.41m
10:04AM0.28m
10:34PM0.46m
11:04AM0.34m
11:33PM0.51m
12:06PM0.40m
00:34AM0.57m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:04
8:06
8:07
8:07
8:08
8:10
8:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:24
5:22
5:22
5:21
5:20
5:19
5:17
5:16
1
5
4
Temp °C
9
8
9
10
9
7
9
10
8
11
11
13
14
12
12
13
12
14
12
10
9
7
7
7
8
8
5
8
7
5
8
8
9
11
9
9
10
8
12
7
4
5
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
WSW
17
1.5
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
13
1
W
16
1
W
14
1.1
W
14
1.1
W
13
1.5
W
12
1.1
W
12
1
W
12
1.3
W
11
1
W
11
0.6
W
11
0.6
W
10
1
WSW
12
1
W
12
1.1
WSW
13
2
WSW
15
Energy kJ
908
1038
536
507
282
222
509
417
476
417
667
356
278
381
231
85
73
318
294
424
1644
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
WSW
12
0.1
S
18
0.2
S
14
0.2
WSW
19
0.6
WSW
17
0.5
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.1
W
21
0.1
W
21
0.1
SW
20
0.1
SW
21
0.2
WSW
19
0.2
WSW
18
0.3
WSW
17
0.5
W
7
0.4
WSW
16
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
14
Energy kJ
210
6
16
37
229
18
22
9
9
15
17
35
31
58
22
84
4
4
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
9
0.2
E
4
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
8
0.1
S
11
0.1
S
13
0.1
E
9
0.1
W
18
0.1
E
10
0.1
W
10
0.1
E
13
0.3
WSW
16
0.4
WSW
12
0.1
S
9
Energy kJ
2
1
3
2
5
5
1
3
3
2
6
2
2
3
51
51
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
N
3
0.2
NNW
2
0.5
WNW
6
0.4
N
3
0.2
N
3
0.2
SSE
15
Energy kJ
1
1
18
3
1
21
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
1
4
Distance (km)
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
12
0
124
146
17
Best forecast wave conditions in Southland
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
2
3
2
2
2
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
2
3
2
2
2
4
3
2
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
6
7
4
7
4
4
4
4
7
4
9
9
9
9
9
5
6
5
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Colac Bay Surf forecast

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

Colac Bay is 30 km (19 miles) from Tuatapere. If you plan a holiday in Southland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Tuatapere. Tuatapere has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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