Dinner Plates surf break

Dinner Plates surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Thursday 30 Apr 2026 NZST
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
13.9° C
(Which is 2.8°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 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (May 01) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Dinner Plates in the next 16 days are 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 02) 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 1.2m 5s period and expected on Saturday (May 02) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Fri 1st May)7ft (2.1m) 14s
Best Surf 6PM (Fri 1st May)8ft (2.4m) 16s
Most Powerful12AM (Sat 2nd May)8ft (2.5m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dinner Plates over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun night, min 8°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
1
Saturday
2
Sunday
3
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
Thu
7
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
5
3
3
2
1
1
2
2
2
3
2
1
2
3
3
3
3
1
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
SSW
14
2.1
SSW
13
2.2
SSW
15
2.5
SSW
16
2
SSW
14
1.7
SW
14
1.4
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1
SW
13
1
SW
12
1.1
SW
12
0.7
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
14
1.1
SW
13
0.9
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
14
1.1
SSW
15
1.3
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
14
1.2
SSW
14
1.1
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1797
1567
2111
3329
1690
1170
632
374
330
300
346
220
538
400
313
290
581
742
682
530
463
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
10
NNW
10
WNW
15
NW
25
NW
20
WNW
15
NW
20
NW
20
WNW
15
NNW
10
N
5
SSW
5
NNW
5
N
10
E
15
N
0
W
10
NE
15
ENE
5
NNW
10
E
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
High Tide
1:44AM2.09m
2:04PM2.13m
2:21AM2.07m
2:43PM2.11m
2:59AM2.04m
3:23PM2.08m
3:39AM1.99m
4:04PM2.03m
4:20AM1.93m
4:47PM1.97m
5:03AM1.86m
5:32PM1.90m
5:49AM1.79m
Low Tide
7:46AM0.29m
8:08PM0.34m
8:24AM0.32m
8:48PM0.39m
9:04AM0.37m
9:30PM0.45m
9:46AM0.43m
10:14PM0.53m
10:31AM0.49m
11:01PM0.60m
11:19AM0.56m
11:51PM0.65m
12:10PM0.61m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
clear
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:41
7:43
7:43
7:45
7:46
7:48
7:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:38
5:37
5:36
5:35
5:32
5:31
5:30
2
3
8
9
Temp °C
10
10
11
11
13
15
15
13
15
14
12
12
11
10
12
13
12
13
13
14
14
7
7
9
5
7
10
12
9
12
12
11
11
9
9
10
10
11
13
11
14
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
SSW
14
2.1
SSW
13
2.2
SSW
15
2.5
SSW
16
2
SSW
14
1.7
SW
14
1.4
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1
SW
13
1
SW
12
1.1
SW
12
0.8
SW
12
1.2
SSW
14
1.1
SW
13
0.9
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
14
1.1
SSW
15
1.3
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
14
1.2
SSW
14
1.1
SW
14
Energy kJ
1797
1567
2111
3329
1690
1170
632
374
330
300
346
200
538
400
313
290
581
742
682
530
463
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
9
0.4
SW
16
0.2
S
8
0.7
SSW
16
0.2
ENE
4
0.2
ENE
4
0.2
E
3
0.8
SSW
16
0.4
NE
9
0.5
ENE
4
0.3
ENE
5
0.3
ENE
6
Energy kJ
47
40
64
5
220
2
2
1
288
20
10
6
8
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
8
0.1
S
8
0.1
E
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
E
11
0.2
W
3
Energy kJ
12
1
2
8
8
9
1
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WNW
3
0.3
NNW
4
1
W
4
0.9
W
4
0.9
WSW
5
0.7
WNW
4
0.7
W
4
0.5
W
4
0.4
NW
3
0.4
N
3
0.2
NNW
3
0.3
NE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.8
W
5
Energy kJ
3
2
38
29
35
15
14
8
2
3
1
13
16
27
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
9
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
Distance (km)
3
0
0
0
37
37
37
37
37
0
0
0
0
0
44
0
0
0
0
0
44
Best forecast wave conditions in Catlins
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
9
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
9
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
4
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
6
7
6
9
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
  • 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 16 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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