Surf Forecast Surf Report
Farewell Spit surf break

Farewell Spit surfForecast / Nelson – West Coast / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Wednesday 30 Apr 2025 NZST
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
17.3° C
(Which is 1.3°C warmer than 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 Thursday (May 01) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Farewell Spit in the next 12 days are 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 07) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 8s period and expected on Thursday (May 01) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Thu 1st May)1.5ft (0.5m) 12s
Best Surf 9AM (Sun 4th May)3.5ft (1.1m) 16s
Most Powerful12PM (Wed 7th May)4ft (1.2m) 17s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Thursday
01
Friday
02
Saturday
03
Sunday
04
Monday
05
Tuesday
06
Wednesday
07
Thursday
08
Friday
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Mon
12
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.5
W
1
W
1
W
0.6
W
0.8
W
0.8
W
0.7
W
0.7
W
0.8
W
1
W
1.1
W
1.1
W
1.1
W
1
W
1
W
0.9
W
0.7
W
1
W
1
W
0.9
W
1.2
W
1
W
0.9
W
0.8
W
1.5
W
2
W
1.9
W
1.7
W
1.8
W
2.4
W
2.1
W
2
W
1.8
W
1.5
W
1.9
W
2
W
Period(s) (?)129913131312121291615141413131315141816161514161515151414101313131212
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy (?)731761581212122021481441871735895594963773502761664343905097654893392601078172215971208133623798321367112475711001179
Wind
(km/h)
20
S
15
SE
10
W
15
SE
20
ESE
0
NNW
5
WNW
5
SSE
5
NE
15
SE
15
ESE
20
E
5
ENE
10
SSE
0
ESE
15
ESE
5
SSW
30
WNW
35
WNW
30
WNW
20
W
20
NW
35
NNW
25
NW
10
WNW
5
ENE
10
SE
15
WSW
0
E
5
NW
5
NW
20
WSW
40
WSW
40
ESE
30
ESE
10
NE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offcross-
off
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
glassglassglassglasscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscrosscross-
off
glasscross-
off
glasscrosscross-
on
crosscrosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
crossglasscross-
off
cross-
off
glassglasscross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:01AM
3.45
12:24PM
3.23
12:50AM
3.27
1:16PM
3.00
1:43AM
3.06
2:13PM
2.77
2:43AM
2.84
3:18PM
2.57
3:51AM
2.69
4:31PM
2.47
5:03AM
2.61
5:43PM
2.47
6:08AM
2.63
6:44PM
2.55
7:03AM
2.69
7:33PM
2.66
7:48AM
2.77
8:15PM
2.78
8:28AM
2.85
8:52PM
2.90
9:05AM
2.92
9:27PM
2.99
9:40AM
2.98
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:17AM
0.08
6:37PM
0.17
7:08AM
0.28
7:28PM
0.40
8:04AM
0.50
8:25PM
0.62
9:07AM
0.70
9:30PM
0.80
10:17AM
0.81
10:41PM
0.89
11:27AM
0.83
11:50PM
0.89
12:29PM
0.77
12:49AM
0.82
1:20PM
0.67
1:39AM
0.73
2:02PM
0.56
2:21AM
0.62
2:40PM
0.47
2:59AM
0.53
3:16PM
0.40
3:36AM
0.46
3:51PM
0.36
Thursday
01
Friday
02
Saturday
03
Sunday
04
Monday
05
Tuesday
06
Wednesday
07
Thursday
08
Friday
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Mon
12
Sunrise-7:13--7:15--7:16--7:16--7:18--7:18--7:20--7:20--7:22--7:22--7:24--7:24-
Sunset--5:37--5:36--5:35--5:32--5:31--5:30--5:30--5:29--5:28--5:27--5:25--5:24
heavy rainlight rainlight rainlight raincloudcloudpart cloudclearpart cloudclearclearpart cloudpart cloudpart cloudclearclearclearclearclearpart cloudpart cloudrain showersrain showersrain showerslight rainlight rainpart cloudpart cloudclearclearclearclearclearpart cloudpart cloudpart cloud
Rain (mm)
18331-----------------22214----------
Temp. °C141414131313141112131313131113131215151516171718181615151515151516151212
Feels °C (?)61112119121310111099109131110999131412151817149151514781259

Short Range Forecast: Heavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed night, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Wed night, calm by Fri afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the W by Tue afternoon).

Days 6-9 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Tue night, calm by Fri morning).

Long Range Forecast: Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, strong winds from the ESE by Sun night).

  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.leaflet.map_placeholder_alt">Map Placeholder Alt</span>

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for Nelson - West Coast

  1. Cleanish and small with two surfers getting short rides on big boards at the extreme southern end where there is shelter from the SE breeze. Waist high at best. Heavy rain. Too small for Patons Rock.

    Para Para Rivermouth, 24 km away
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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 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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