Farewell Spit Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.51° S 172.76° E

Farewell Spit Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 10 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Farewell Spit sea temperature is
13.7°C
0.6° 

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 10 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 19s period, W swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, W swell with 5,803 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 19s 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 11) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 19s period. 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 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) 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 1.3m 7s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Fri 11th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 19s
Best Surf12AM (Fri 11th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 19s
Most Powerful 9PM (Thu 17th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 17s

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


Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Thu night, strong winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, near gales from the NW by Tue night).

Thu
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
2
3
2
4
5
0
1
4
4
3
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
W
16
2.2
W
19
2.5
W
18
3
W
18
1.6
W
17
3
W
16
3
W
16
2.5
W
17
1.6
W
17
1.5
W
16
1.8
W
16
1.6
W
16
2.1
W
15
1.8
W
15
1.5
W
15
1.4
W
14
1.9
WNW
6
2.5
WNW
8
2.2
W
9
2.5
W
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
501
3361
4015
5491
1417
4279
4039
4008
1451
1201
1611
1226
1976
1371
957
801
238
823
753
2825
Wind (km/h)
15
S
10
S
40
WSW
45
W
35
WSW
20
SW
30
WSW
45
WSW
35
WSW
5
SW
5
N
20
WSW
45
W
35
WSW
45
W
40
W
45
NW
40
W
45
WSW
40
WSW
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
9:29PM3.37m
9:52AM3.28m
10:10PM3.46m
10:32AM3.35m
10:49PM3.46m
11:10AM3.36m
11:26PM3.39m
11:46AM3.29m
00:02AM3.26m
12:22PM3.17m
00:38AM3.07m
12:59PM3.00m
1:15AM2.86m
Low Tide
3:43AM0.03m
3:59PM0.04m
4:24AM-0.06m
4:39PM-0.00m
5:02AM-0.06m
5:18PM0.03m
5:38AM0.02m
5:55PM0.14m
6:14AM0.16m
6:32PM0.31m
6:50AM0.36m
7:11PM0.51m
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:31
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:13
6:14
6:15
6:15
6:16
6:17
6:19
 mm
1
5
1
Temp °C
13
10
12
12
12
12
13
12
14
13
12
13
13
11
12
13
13
12
11
10
Feels °C
9
7
3
3
5
8
6
2
10
12
11
5
4
4
3
5
5
3
1
0
  • 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
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Farewell Spit:

join our community of surf reporters

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.

Nearest locationNearest