
Surf Forecasts:
Colac Bay surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 4,645 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s period with WSW swell.
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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Colac Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 0.6m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Colac Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Fri night. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Fri afternoon, min 2°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Fri night, calm by Sat night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | WSW 15 | W 15 | W 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | WSW 12 | W 11 | W 11 | WSW 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
893 | 894 | 1058 | 995 | 648 | 408 | 678 | 746 | 1641 | 1989 | 4541 | 3874 | 2801 | 1505 | 811 | 752 | 503 | 307 | 242 | 187 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 7:05PM2.18m | 7:39AM2.17m | 8:05PM2.12m | 8:40AM2.13m | 9:04PM2.10m | 9:37AM2.12m | 9:59PM2.10m | 10:30AM2.13m | 10:50PM2.11m | 11:18AM2.16m | 11:37PM2.14m | 12:03PM2.18m | 00:19AM2.16m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:23AM0.75m | 1:50PM0.81m | 2:22AM0.82m | 2:48PM0.90m | 3:21AM0.85m | 3:49PM0.93m | 4:19AM0.82m | 4:48PM0.89m | 5:11AM0.76m | 5:38PM0.82m | 5:57AM0.67m | 6:21PM0.72m | ||||||||
— | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:18 | — | — | 8:18 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | |
5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 13 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 20 | WSW 15 | W 15 | SSE 17 | SE 13 | S 7 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | SE 14 | WSW 12 | W 11 | W 11 | WSW 11 |
3 | 3 | 1058 | 995 | 648 | 408 | 678 | 8 | 1641 | 1989 | 95 | 26 | 66 | 1505 | 811 | 8 | 503 | 307 | 242 | 187 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SSW 12 | S 6 | — | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 10 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 13 | W 12 | SSE 15 | SE 17 | SE 15 | S 15 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SSE 13 |
5 | 13 | 3 | — | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 3 | 76 | 97 | 79 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 12 | SW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | E 6 | — | SE 11 | SE 13 | SW 4 | — | SE 15 | S 15 | S 14 | — | — | W 18 | — | SW 16 |
— | — | 15 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 5 | 7 | 1 | — | 9 | 38 | 16 | — | — | 6 | — | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 12 | WSW 12 | WNW 3 | NNE 3 | N 4 | — | W 12 | — | NNW 2 | W 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | WSW 12 | — | NNW 3 | NNE 2 |
893 | 894 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 9 | — | 746 | — | 1 | 4541 | 3874 | 2801 | 39 | 34 | 752 | 28 | — | 1 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 124 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 124 | 146 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Southland | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










