Farewell Spit Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.51° S 172.76° E

Issued: 11 am 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Farewell Spit sea temperature is
14.8° C

1.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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 6 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 16s period, W swell with 2,084 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 19s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Farewell Spit in the next 16 days are 2.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Wed 8th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 14s
Best Surf 3AM (Fri 10th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 18s
Most Powerful 9PM (Mon 6th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 16s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 65mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (gales from the SE on Mon morning, light winds from the WSW by Wed morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Thu morning, calm by Sat afternoon).

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
2
0
2
2
3
0
3
2
3
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
W
18
2.1
W
17
1.8
W
16
1.3
W
16
1.1
W
15
0.7
W
14
0.7
WSW
14
0.7
W
13
1
W
12
1.5
W
16
1.3
W
15
1
W
18
1.2
W
17
1.1
W
16
0.9
W
16
0.8
W
15
1
W
17
1.1
W
16
1.1
W
16
1
W
15
0.9
W
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2960
2388
1626
801
517
198
198
158
281
1092
711
628
851
612
391
272
600
612
592
447
343
Wind (km/h)
65
SE
70
SE
50
SE
40
SE
45
SSE
30
SSE
20
W
10
E
30
SE
35
SSE
35
SE
25
SE
15
ESE
5
NE
20
E
10
SE
5
ENE
5
ESE
15
ESE
10
ESE
10
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
2:05PM2.80m
2:23AM2.92m
2:53PM2.75m
3:13AM2.86m
3:47PM2.72m
4:10AM2.80m
4:50PM2.73m
5:15AM2.78m
5:57PM2.78m
6:24AM2.82m
7:04PM2.90m
7:32AM2.92m
8:08PM3.06m
Low Tide
8:13PM0.57m
8:44AM0.50m
9:02PM0.64m
9:36AM0.55m
9:59PM0.70m
10:34AM0.58m
11:04PM0.71m
11:39AM0.57m
00:13AM0.67m
12:46PM0.51m
1:21AM0.55m
1:50PM0.40m
2:25AM0.38m
light rain
light rain
thunderstorm
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:52
7:52
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:17
5:19
 mm
1
3
17
27
16
1
Temp °C
13
14
14
13
13
14
14
14
13
13
13
11
10
10
9
9
10
10
9
10
10
Feels °C
-2
0
3
4
4
3
12
11
8
4
4
4
5
7
5
6
8
8
4
8
7
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
W
18
2.1
W
17
1.8
W
16
1.3
W
16
1.1
W
15
1.7
ESE
8
0.7
WSW
14
0.7
W
13
1
W
12
1.6
ESE
8
1.3
W
15
1
W
18
1.2
W
17
1.1
W
16
0.9
W
16
0.8
W
15
1
W
17
1.1
W
16
1.1
W
16
1
W
15
0.9
W
15
Energy kJ
2960
2388
1626
801
517
348
198
158
271
341
711
628
851
612
391
272
600
612
592
447
343
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
WNW
18
0.4
NNE
8
0.8
N
8
0.9
N
8
0.6
N
8
0.7
W
14
0.7
ESE
5
0.7
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
6
1.5
W
16
0.6
W
20
0.9
WSW
14
0.2
WNW
18
0.7
E
6
0.3
W
21
0.6
W
18
0.2
E
4
0.1
E
12
0.2
E
4
0.1
NE
11
Energy kJ
32
19
80
94
40
198
30
45
52
1092
271
331
30
30
81
226
1
3
1
5
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
8
0.6
WSW
8
0.2
W
20
0.4
W
18
0.7
W
17
0.3
W
22
0.1
NW
20
0.2
E
8
0.1
W
21
0.1
W
15
Energy kJ
5
54
30
104
281
82
15
5
9
4
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
ESE
8
4
ESE
9
3
ESE
7
1.7
ESE
6
2.2
ESE
6
2.4
SE
8
1
SE
6
1.2
ESE
6
1.2
SE
6
2.3
ESE
8
1.8
ESE
8
1.5
ESE
8
0.8
E
6
0.5
E
4
0.3
E
4
0.3
ESE
3
0.1
NE
12
Energy kJ
1375
2673
856
180
381
729
66
110
112
654
388
234
46
9
3
2
6
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
6
1
4
4
3
2
2
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
2
2
Distance (km)
91
168
91
26
26
17
26
0
17
115
17
17
17
0
17
0
115
0
17
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - West Coast
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
6
6
5
4
4
4
4
3
4
6
4
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
7
8
7
5
5
9
6
9
9
5
6
5
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
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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