Farewell Spit Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.51° S 172.76° E

Farewell Spit Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 14 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Farewell Spit sea temperature is
14.3° C
0.7° 

Farewell Spit surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Farewell Spit surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 15s period, W swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 19s period, W swell with 3,728 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 15s period with W swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Farewell Spit this week:

The surf forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Farewell Spit in the next 16 days are 2.3m 19s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Fri 17th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 15s
Best Surf12PM (Fri 17th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 15s
Most Powerful 3PM (Sat 18th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 19s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 16 days.


Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue night, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Wed night, calm by Fri morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat night, min 8°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the WSW by Sat afternoon).

Tue
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
3
1
0
1
1
0
3
4
3
1
0
1
1
1
1
3
2
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
WNW
8
1.7
WNW
12
2.4
W
16
2.4
W
16
2.4
WNW
16
2.1
W
15
1.9
W
15
1.1
W
15
1.5
W
15
1.5
W
15
1.4
W
15
2.1
W
15
2.3
W
19
1.4
W
17
1.5
W
16
1.3
W
16
1.2
W
15
1.1
W
14
1
W
14
0.8
W
13
0.7
W
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
318
890
2948
2789
2678
2098
1576
520
1010
1037
876
1963
3728
1169
1149
843
614
489
394
229
166
Wind (km/h)
35
WNW
30
W
10
W
25
W
40
WNW
40
W
40
W
40
WSW
10
W
5
SW
15
WSW
45
WSW
50
WSW
20
NNE
40
ESE
25
ESE
30
ESE
15
SE
10
ESE
10
SE
10
SE
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
9:59PM3.40m
10:24AM3.27m
10:49PM3.49m
11:14AM3.30m
11:37PM3.52m
12:01PM3.28m
00:23AM3.46m
12:47PM3.19m
1:08AM3.33m
1:33PM3.07m
1:53AM3.14m
2:19PM2.91m
2:38AM2.93m
Low Tide
4:16AM0.07m
4:35PM0.02m
5:06AM-0.01m
5:23PM-0.01m
5:54AM-0.03m
6:10PM0.03m
6:40AM0.03m
6:55PM0.14m
7:25AM0.16m
7:41PM0.30m
8:10AM0.33m
8:28PM0.50m
8:57AM0.52m
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:48
7:48
7:47
7:47
7:46
7:45
7:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:20
5:21
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:24
5:24
 mm
1
1
6
3
Temp °C
14
15
15
15
15
13
13
13
11
12
10
12
12
13
10
10
10
8
9
9
8
Feels °C
8
8
11
10
9
5
5
5
10
10
8
2
2
9
2
3
3
4
7
7
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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Information about the Farewell Spit Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Farewell Spit provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Farewell Spit can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Farewell Spit 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 (Farewell Spit) 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 Farewell Spit 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.

Are you planning a holiday in Nelson - West Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Farewell Spit, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nelson - West Coast, consider staying in Nelson which is 96 km (60 miles) away.

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