Dinner Plates surf break

Dinner Plates surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Wednesday 17 Dec 2025 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Dinner Plates surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Dinner Plates sea temperature is
14.9° C
(Which is 3.5°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dinner Plates this week:

The surf forecast for Dinner Plates over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Dinner Plates in the next 12 days are 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Dec 20) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Dec 23) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Wed 17th Dec)5ft (1.6m) 13s
Best Surf 7AM (Mon 22nd Dec)8ft (2.5m) 12s
Most Powerful10AM (Sat 20th Dec)8ft (2.5m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dinner Plates over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Thu afternoon, light winds from the W by Fri morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon morning, min 7°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds.

Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tue
23
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
2
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
1
2
2
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.4
SW
1.8
SW
1.7
SW
1.4
SW
1.1
SW
1.8
WSW
1.3
SW
1.2
SW
1.6
SW
1.5
SW
2.5
SW
2.5
SW
2.4
SSW
2.2
SSW
1.7
SSW
1.7
S
3
SSE
2.5
SSE
2.2
SE
1.5
SSE
1.3
SSE
Period(s) (?)161414131211121114131312121188121110109
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)96413071083659314846450357992769236219781553108039237721391633993437266
Wind
(km/h)
20
WSW
15
W
20
W
20
WNW
25
WNW
40
W
20
WSW
10
W
25
SW
25
WSW
30
WSW
30
SW
30
WSW
25
WSW
20
SW
10
SW
5
W
25
ESE
35
ENE
10
E
20
ESE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on
crosscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
on
crosscross-
on
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
glasscrosscross-
off
crosscross
High Tide
/ height (m)
1:13AM
1.94
1:29PM
1.91
1:55AM
1.99
2:10PM
1.95
2:35AM
2.03
2:49PM
1.97
3:15AM
2.06
3:28PM
1.99
3:54AM
2.08
4:07PM
1.99
4:33AM
2.07
4:46PM
1.98
5:12AM
2.05
5:25PM
1.96
Low Tide
/ height (m)
7:13AM
0.52
7:30PM
0.45
7:56AM
0.51
8:12PM
0.43
8:37AM
0.49
8:53PM
0.40
9:19AM
0.48
9:34PM
0.39
10:00AM
0.47
10:15PM
0.38
10:42AM
0.47
10:57PM
0.39
11:23AM
0.48
Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tue
23
Sunrise-5:43--5:43--5:45--5:45--5:46--5:46--5:46-
Sunset--9:34--9:35--9:35--9:36--9:37--9:37--9:37
rain showers
cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
heavy rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
cloud
heavy rain
light rain
part cloud
Rain (mm)
2--1--15724324-----152-
Temp. °C11131312171613810910109101191212121314
Feels °C (?)688813985422224558651111
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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 Dinner Plates Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Dinner Plates provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Dinner Plates can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Dinner Plates 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 (Dinner Plates) 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 Dinner Plates 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.

Ding Dangs is 2 km (1 miles) from the city of Mossel Bay. If you plan a holiday in Garden Route, look for hotels and other accommodation in Mossel Bay. Mossel Bay has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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