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Surf Forecasts:
Farewell Spit surfForecast / Nelson – West Coast / New Zealand
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Thursday 09 Apr 2026 NZSTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Farewell Spit surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Farewell Spit sea temperature is
17.8° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)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 (Apr 10) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s is also forecast. 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 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Apr 17) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Apr 12) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Fri 10th Apr) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 13th Apr) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 17th Apr) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun night, min 14°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, near gales from the W by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thu 16 | ||||||||||||||||
| Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | ||
Rating (10 max) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||
| Wave Height (m) & direction (?) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period(s) (?) | 16 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | |
Wave (?)Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ (?) | 176 | 167 | 300 | 154 | 71 | 40 | 55 | 72 | 132 | 335 | 415 | 320 | 560 | 599 | 1249 | 1177 | 2047 | 2274 | 1541 | 1293 | 1433 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy | cross- off | off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | off | cross | cross- on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross- off | cross- off | cross | cross | cross | |
High Tide / height (m) | 3:01AM 2.48 | 3:32PM 2.32 | 4:12AM 2.40 | 4:51PM 2.29 | 5:29AM 2.44 | |||||||||||||||||
Low Tide / height (m) | 9:25AM 1.05 | 9:51PM 1.06 | 10:40AM 1.08 | 11:08PM 1.05 | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thu 16 | ||||||||||||||||
| Sunrise | - | 6:52 | - | - | 6:52 | - | - | 6:54 | - | - | 6:54 | - | - | 6:56 | - | - | 6:56 | - | - | 6:58 | - | |
| Sunset | - | - | 6:07 | - | - | 6:05 | - | - | 6:04 | - | - | 6:01 | - | - | 6:00 | - | - | 5:59 | - | - | 5:58 | |
 |  | | | |  |  |  | |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | ||
Rain (mm) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 6 | - | 3 | 9 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| Temp. °C | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| Feels °C (?) | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | |
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Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
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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