Using Surf-Forecast’s Historical Surf Data To Find The Cleanest Waves On Earth
Our historical stats breakdown what waves are offshore almost all the time.
- Forecast
- Maps
- Live
- Weather State
- Spot Information
Surf Forecasts:
Farewell Spit surfForecast / Nelson – West Coast / New Zealand
12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Thursday 22 Jan 2026 NZDTForecast 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
17.4° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)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 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Farewell Spit in the next 12 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jan 24) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jan 26) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Sat 24th Jan) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sat 24th Jan) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 24th Jan) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 12 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, near gales from the W by Fri night). | Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NE by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 22 | Friday 23 | Saturday 24 | Sunday 25 | Monday 26 | Tuesday 27 | Wednesday 28 | |||||||||||||||
| AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Rating (10 max) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| Wave Height (m) & direction (?) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Period(s) (?) | 7 | 20 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Wave (?)Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ (?) | 81 | 611 | 301 | 373 | 337 | 619 | 1520 | 4646 | 2692 | 2037 | 2582 | 924 | 601 | 412 | 152 | 183 | 178 | 202 | 148 | 94 | 336 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy | glass | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross- off | cross | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross | cross | cross- off | cross- on | cross- on | cross | cross | cross- on | cross |
High Tide / height (m) | 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 | 4:47AM 2.76 | 5:15PM 2.76 | 5:58AM 2.70 | 6:30PM 2.68 | ||||||||
Low Tide / height (m) | 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 | 11:03AM 0.70 | 11:40PM 0.64 | 12:17PM 0.77 | 12:54AM 0.68 | ||||||||
Thursday 22 | Friday 23 | Saturday 24 | Sunday 25 | Monday 26 | Tuesday 27 | Wednesday 28 | |||||||||||||||
| Sunrise | 6:22 | - | - | 6:24 | - | - | 6:24 | - | - | 6:26 | - | - | 6:28 | - | - | 6:28 | - | - | 6:30 | - | - |
| Sunset | - | 8:55 | - | - | 8:55 | - | - | 8:54 | - | - | 8:53 | - | - | 8:52 | - | - | 8:52 | - | - | 8:52 | - |
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
Rain (mm) | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Temp. °C | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 |
| Feels °C (?) | 19 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 11 |
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
The World’s Most Inconsistent Waves
Huntington, Dribbleton, Virginia, Holland and the Superbank! We recently had a look at the world’s most consistent waves. This was based on the combination of swells and wind directed at 7,000 surf spots, as compiled from our data since 2006. Those stats, represented in easy-to-read graphics, are located under each wave’s spot guides, with historical swell and wind breakdowns available by month, season, and year. There is also an offshore filter, which shows how often the swells come with clean
Using Surf-Forecast’s Historical Surf Data To Find The Most Consistent Waves On Earth
Using our statistical data for 7000 spots dating back to 2006, we can find those waves that break the most, with the best winds.
Nazare Big Wave Challenge Gets Yellow Alert, Could Run Saturday in Giant Waves
70-foot plus waves predicted for Portuguese big wave tow surfing competition.
Read more
Discover more articles and updates in the Greenroom.
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 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.
Nearest