Surf Forecasts:
Farewell Spit surf forecast from 21 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 27 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 28 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 17s period, W swell with 3,404 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 25 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s 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 (Sep 25) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 18s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 18s is also forecast. 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 2.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 28) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 24) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 25th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 27th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 28th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Wed morning, strong winds from the W by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat night, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Fri night, strong winds from the WSW by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | Thursday 24 | Friday 25 | Saturday 26 | Sunday 27 | Monday 28 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 8 | W 15 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | WNW 7 | W 9 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | W 17 | W 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1553 | 781 | 780 | 2627 | 2928 | 2460 | 1767 | 2082 | 606 | 329 | 869 | 171 | 148 | 746 | 220 | 977 | 1304 | 1095 | 1088 | 3404 | 1606 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:06PM2.55m | 7:33AM2.54m | 7:54PM2.75m | 8:17AM2.75m | 8:35PM2.96m | 8:56AM2.95m | 9:11PM3.15m | 9:33AM3.14m | 9:47PM3.30m | 10:08AM3.28m | 10:23PM3.39m | 10:45AM3.37m | 11:00PM3.42m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:48PM0.96m | 1:23AM0.86m | 1:40PM0.77m | 2:09AM0.63m | 2:23PM0.56m | 2:48AM0.40m | 3:02PM0.37m | 3:25AM0.20m | 3:39PM0.20m | 4:01AM0.05m | 4:16PM0.09m | 4:37AM-0.04m | 4:54PM0.04m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | — | — | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 4 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | W 14 | W 15 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | WNW 16 | W 15 | W 14 | NW 14 | W 13 | W 7 | — | — | W 23 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | W 13 | W 16 |
| kJ | 32 | 192 | 780 | 2627 | 2928 | 2460 | 1767 | 48 | 606 | 329 | 8 | 171 | 131 | — | — | 11 | 1304 | 1095 | 1088 | 956 | 1606 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 14 | WNW 17 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | — | E 5 | NW 4 | — | NW 4 | W 7 | — | W 18 | W 12 | — | — | W 23 | ESE 7 | E 5 | W 18 | WNW 17 | W 16 |
| kJ | 20 | 97 | 5 | 5 | — | 37 | 2 | — | 1 | 59 | — | 6 | 148 | — | — | 11 | 15 | 5 | 231 | 311 | 488 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 3 | WNW 15 | E 7 | — | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | — | — | — | W 23 | W 21 | — | — | NW 8 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 23 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 10 | 35 | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 8 | W 9 | — | E 5 | — | — | W 16 | WSW 7 | — | W 14 | W 6 | — | W 12 | WNW 7 | W 9 | NE 3 | — | — | W 17 | — |
| kJ | 1553 | 781 | 508 | — | 27 | — | — | 2082 | 73 | — | 869 | 130 | — | 746 | 220 | 977 | 4 | — | — | 3404 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 186 | 191 | 194 | 92 | 7 | 115 | 115 | 147 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 147 | 238 | 177 | 3 | 17 | 207 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - West Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Farewell Spit surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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