Farewell Spit Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.51° S 172.76° E

Issued: 5 am 04 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Farewell Spit sea temperature is
14.5° C

Slightly warmer than usual

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 3 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: Saturday 4 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, NNW swell with 3,392 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. 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 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 04) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.5m 9s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sun 5th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 11s
Best Surf 3AM (Fri 10th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 18s
Most Powerful 9PM (Sat 4th Jul)15ft (4.5m) 10s

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 95mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sun afternoon, gales from the SE by Mon morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds.

Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
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
1
1
0
0
3
1
2
0
2
2
0
1
1
0
3
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
NW
7
3.5
NNW
8
3
NW
10
2.3
NW
9
1.6
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
12
2.2
W
18
2.3
W
17
2
W
16
1.5
W
16
1.2
W
15
0.9
WSW
14
0.7
W
14
0.5
W
19
1
W
17
1.1
W
16
1.1
W
15
0.9
W
18
1.2
W
17
1.1
W
16
1
W
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
505
1375
1979
911
426
805
2994
2898
1983
1065
606
336
189
175
593
612
510
509
851
612
494
Wind (km/h)
45
N
50
N
45
W
35
W
20
W
55
ESE
70
SE
30
ESE
40
SSE
35
SE
40
SE
15
WSW
10
SE
25
ESE
25
SE
35
SE
50
SE
15
SSE
15
SE
5
NW
15
SE
Wind State
on
on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
12:42PM2.87m
1:01AM3.03m
1:22PM2.84m
1:40AM2.98m
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
Low Tide
6:50PM0.44m
7:18AM0.44m
7:30PM0.50m
7:59AM0.47m
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
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
light rain
cloud
mod rain
light rain
heavy rain
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:52
7:52
7:52
7:52
7:50
7:50
7:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
 mm
1
4
20
5
10
2
26
27
1
Temp °C
14
13
14
13
13
12
13
11
13
13
14
13
14
14
13
13
13
12
12
13
13
Feels °C
6
4
6
6
8
8
-1
5
4
4
6
9
10
8
6
6
3
6
8
11
9
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
18
0.2
W
16
1.7
NNE
8
2.3
NW
9
1.6
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
12
2.2
W
18
2.3
W
17
2
W
16
1.5
W
16
1.2
W
15
1
ESE
6
0.8
ESE
6
0.6
ESE
6
1
W
17
1.1
W
16
1.1
W
15
1
W
14
1.2
W
17
1.1
W
16
1
W
16
Energy kJ
6
21
372
911
426
805
2994
2898
1983
1065
606
60
38
29
593
612
510
411
851
612
494
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
23
0.2
W
21
0.7
W
17
1.3
NNW
9
0.8
W
15
0.2
WNW
19
0.4
NNE
8
1.7
NNE
8
0.9
N
8
0.6
N
7
0.9
WSW
14
0.7
W
14
0.6
W
13
0.1
NW
18
0.3
W
22
0.7
ESE
7
0.9
W
18
0.2
WNW
16
Energy kJ
11
35
290
270
279
37
21
398
103
40
336
189
130
12
82
45
509
24
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
WNW
17
0.7
W
16
0.7
N
8
0.2
N
6
0.2
W
20
0.5
W
19
0.5
W
20
0.4
ESE
5
Energy kJ
30
246
64
3
31
175
188
9
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
NW
7
3.5
NNW
8
3
NW
10
1.2
ESE
5
4.5
ESE
9
2.5
E
8
0.3
SSE
2
0.8
ESE
5
1.2
ESE
5
1.1
SE
5
1.1
SE
6
1
SE
6
1.3
ESE
7
0.8
ESE
6
0.9
ESE
7
0.6
SE
5
0.6
ESE
5
1.6
ESE
6
1.3
ESE
7
Energy kJ
505
1375
1979
66
3176
745
1
33
64
72
72
64
158
44
76
14
17
188
157
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
1
2
4
4
6
1
4
4
2
2
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
181
186
83
83
93
39
168
115
90
17
26
0
0
26
17
17
26
0
0
115
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - West Coast
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
4
3
4
4
5
6
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
6
5
9
7
5
6
8
7
4
5
9
8
9
6
5
5
8
5
8
  • 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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