
Surf Forecasts:
Colac Bay surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, W swell with 5,800 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 18s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Colac Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Fri morning). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun afternoon, min 6°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sun night, calm by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | WSW 14 | W 14 | W 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 21 | W 19 | W 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
905 | 811 | 577 | 400 | 2212 | 1846 | 545 | 374 | 537 | 478 | 2809 | 4951 | 5800 | 4382 | 3384 | 1860 | 989 | 744 | 420 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 1:32AM2.22m | 1:57PM2.27m | 2:07AM2.25m | 2:32PM2.29m | 2:42AM2.28m | 3:07PM2.30m | 3:20AM2.30m | 3:44PM2.30m | 4:00AM2.30m | 4:23PM2.29m | 4:44AM2.28m | 5:07PM2.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:52AM0.44m | 8:08PM0.50m | 8:28AM0.40m | 8:43PM0.47m | 9:05AM0.39m | 9:21PM0.46m | 9:44AM0.42m | 10:01PM0.48m | 10:27AM0.47m | 10:45PM0.53m | 11:12AM0.53m | 11:33PM0.58m | |||||||
— | 8:11 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 4 | -3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | WSW 14 | W 14 | W 14 | ESE 11 | — | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 20 | S 18 | — | S 16 | S 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
905 | 811 | 577 | 400 | 69 | — | 545 | 374 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 6 | — | 826 | 121 | 989 | 744 | 420 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 17 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | W 16 | W 14 | — | W 22 | SSE 10 | S 12 | S 19 | S 22 | — | SSE 11 | — | — | — | SSE 10 | WSW 18 | SSE 10 |
227 | 128 | 329 | 190 | 4 | — | 10 | 21 | 3 | 29 | 10 | — | 47 | — | — | — | 10 | 62 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | — | — | — | SW 20 | S 20 | — | — | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | SSE 10 | WSW 16 |
15 | 5 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | 16 | 8 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 10 | 51 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | NE 4 | ESE 11 | NNE 4 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SSE 10 | WSW 12 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 21 | W 19 | W 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | — | — | — |
3 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 2212 | 1846 | 35 | 13 | 537 | 478 | 2809 | 4951 | 5800 | 4382 | 3384 | 1860 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 93 | 493 | 271 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 184 | 222 | 343 | 11 | 17 | 12 | 12 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Southland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
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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.










