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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 6 pm Saturday 17 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
17.7° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Farewell Spit this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Farewell Spit in the next 12 days are 2.3m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jan 23) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jan 18) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 1PM (Fri 23rd Jan)7.5ft (2.3m) 12s

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 Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Sat afternoon, near gales from the ESE by Sun morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 101mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Mainly near gales.

Sat
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.6
W
0.5
W
0.4
WSW
0.3
WSW
0.3
WSW
0.3
WSW
0.3
WSW
0.3
WSW
0.4
WSW
0.4
WSW
0.4
WSW
0.7
N
1
N
1.2
N
1.4
N
1.8
N
2
N
1.8
N
2.1
N
1.6
NNW
0.6
W
Period(s) (?)12121212121212121414148899121212121114
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)103724627302828286763616612722534791810589021194599146
Wind
(km/h)
35
ESE
55
ESE
55
ESE
55
ESE
55
ESE
45
SE
45
ESE
50
ESE
55
ESE
45
ESE
45
ESE
35
ESE
35
SE
45
ESE
30
SE
45
W
45
W
35
W
45
W
30
WSW
25
ENE
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		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		crosscrosscrosscrosscross-
off		cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
10:27PM
2.78
10:50AM
2.97
11:07PM
2.90
11:28AM
3.10
11:44PM
3.00
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
Low Tide
/ height (m)
4:36AM
0.52
5:02PM
0.51
5:15AM
0.39
5:40PM
0.38
5:52AM
0.29
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
Sat
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Sunrise--6:18--6:18--6:20--6:22--6:22--6:24--6:24
Sunset8:59--8:59--8:58--8:58--8:57--8:55--8:55--
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
mod rain
Rain (mm)
-----------2943461---27
Temp. °C161515151415171515171615151718181818171614
Feels °C (?)9544368559789915121012889
  • 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

Latest Updates

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Quick surf report for Farewell Spit:

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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.

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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