Dinner Plates surf break

Dinner Plates surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Thursday 28 May 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
12.6° C
(Which is 2.3°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Dinner Plates surf forecast from 28 May 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 28 May, 3PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 28 May, 3PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 10,730 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 28 May, 3PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period with SW swell.

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 Thursday (May 28) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 5.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 4.0m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Dinner Plates in the next 16 days are 5.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 28) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jun 03) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Thu 28th May)16ft (5.0m) 15s
Best Surf 3PM (Thu 28th May)16ft (5.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 3PM (Thu 28th May)16ft (5.0m) 15s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu morning, calm by Fri afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the W by Tue night).

Thursday
28
Friday
29
Saturday
30
Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
!
3
5
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
4.5
SSW
15
5
SW
15
3.5
SSW
15
3
SSW
14
2.4
SSW
13
2.1
SSW
13
1.8
SSW
12
1.5
SSW
12
1
SW
12
0.8
SSW
12
0.7
SW
13
0.6
SW
13
0.7
SW
11
0.8
SW
11
0.8
SW
12
0.6
E
10
0.6
SSW
11
0.8
SSW
12
0.8
SSW
11
0.7
SSW
11
0.8
SW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
8716
10730
4986
3025
2057
1465
1003
655
297
187
162
130
123
145
167
70
87
187
157
101
120
Wind (km/h)
35
W
30
W
25
W
15
NW
10
WNW
5
NE
5
N
10
E
5
NE
15
NNE
20
NNE
15
NW
5
SSW
15
ESE
20
E
15
NW
15
WNW
25
W
15
NW
10
WNW
15
ENE
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
12:20PM2.02m
00:38AM1.99m
1:02PM2.04m
1:18AM1.99m
1:43PM2.05m
1:58AM1.99m
2:23PM2.07m
2:37AM1.99m
3:03PM2.06m
3:17AM1.97m
3:44PM2.04m
3:58AM1.94m
4:25PM2.00m
Low Tide
6:22PM0.42m
6:40AM0.38m
7:03PM0.44m
7:20AM0.39m
7:45PM0.45m
8:01AM0.39m
8:26PM0.47m
8:42AM0.41m
9:09PM0.49m
9:24AM0.43m
9:52PM0.52m
10:08AM0.46m
10:37PM0.55m
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
cloud
mod rain
mod rain
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:12
8:14
8:15
8:15
8:17
8:18
8:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:07
5:06
5:06
5:05
5:05
5:04
1
2
5
1
10
6
Temp °C
10
11
11
9
10
9
11
12
11
15
16
14
13
12
12
12
12
11
10
11
9
3
5
6
6
8
7
8
9
8
13
12
12
12
10
12
10
9
5
7
8
6
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
4.5
SSW
15
4
SSW
15
3.5
SSW
15
3
SSW
14
2.4
SSW
13
2.1
SSW
13
1.8
SSW
12
1.5
SSW
12
1
SW
12
0.8
SSW
12
0.7
SW
13
0.7
E
7
0.7
SW
11
0.8
SW
11
0.8
SW
12
0.6
E
10
0.6
ENE
10
0.8
SSW
12
0.8
SSW
11
0.7
SSW
11
0.8
SW
10
Energy kJ
8716
7904
4986
3025
2057
1465
1003
655
297
187
162
49
123
145
167
70
80
187
157
101
120
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.6
S
9
0.6
ENE
6
0.6
E
7
0.6
SW
13
0.7
ENE
9
0.5
ENE
9
0.6
E
10
0.5
SW
12
0.6
SSW
11
0.7
ENE
10
0.6
ENE
10
0.6
ENE
11
0.6
ENE
11
Energy kJ
2
2
57
28
39
130
82
45
71
66
87
108
80
98
98
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSE
9
0.4
SSE
8
0.4
S
8
0.3
W
3
0.1
S
8
0.1
S
16
0.5
SW
8
0.3
SW
7
0.3
SSW
18
0.5
SW
5
0.3
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
15
Energy kJ
33
24
22
1
1
5
29
7
60
12
46
42
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
WNW
5
5
SW
15
0.8
ENE
5
0.3
NNW
3
0.3
ESE
2
0.7
WSW
4
0.7
NW
4
0.9
W
4
Energy kJ
66
10730
27
1
1
15
16
29
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
7
5
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
3
1
1
1
Distance (km)
127
37
37
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
37
44
44
0
3
37
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Catlins
Rating
(10 max)
9
7
5
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
7
5
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
9
9
6
5
5
5
5
7
7
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
  • 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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