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Surf Forecasts:

Farewell Spit surf break

Farewell Spit surfForecast / Nelson – West Coast / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Tuesday 20 Jan 2026 NZDT
Forecast 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
17.5° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Farewell Spit this week:

The surf forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jan 24) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s 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 12 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jan 24) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Jan 20) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sat 24th Jan)11ft (3.5m) 14s
Best Surf10PM (Sat 24th Jan)11ft (3.5m) 14s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sat 24th Jan)13ft (4.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 61mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the ESE on Tue morning, light winds from the W by Thu morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Some drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Fri night, calm by Sun morning).

Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Monday
26
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
5
4
2
2
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.4
WSW
0.4
WSW
0.4
WSW
0.4
WSW
0.4
WSW
1
NNE
0.3
W
0.5
W
1.4
W
1.7
W
1.6
W
2.5
WSW
4
W
4
W
3
W
2.3
W
2.1
W
1.8
W
1.4
W
1.9
W
1.2
W
Period(s) (?)14141413138212018161681214141312101068
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)67636157551448119412291508130582741916479380217831215709386224187
Wind
(km/h)
55
ESE
55
ESE
50
SE
45
SE
45
SE
45
SE
20
SSE
40
W
40
WSW
40
W
50
W
50
WSW
55
WSW
50
WSW
10
S
10
SSE
25
WSW
20
SE
10
NNE
35
W
30
ESE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
off		crosscrosscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		offoffcross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
on		crosscross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:04PM
3.20
12:21AM
3.06
12:39PM
3.26
12:57AM
3.09
1:15PM
3.27
1:35AM
3.09
1:53PM
3.24
2:15AM
3.04
2:33PM
3.16
2:59AM
2.97
3:18PM
3.04
3:49AM
2.87
4:11PM
2.89
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:17PM
0.27
6:28AM
0.23
6:54PM
0.21
7:05AM
0.21
7:31PM
0.18
7:43AM
0.24
8:10PM
0.21
8:24AM
0.31
8:52PM
0.28
9:09AM
0.43
9:39PM
0.39
10:01AM
0.57
10:34PM
0.53
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Monday
26
Sunrise6:20--6:22--6:22--6:24--6:24--6:26--6:28--
Sunset-8:58--8:57--8:55--8:55--8:54--8:53--8:52-
cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
Rain (mm)
--216475----1---------
Temp. °C161716151617181918181715161616161716161717
Feels °C (?)56668121613111185659151212131114
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

View detailed surf forecast for Farewell Spit at:
surf-forecast.com

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 12 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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