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Farewell Spit surfForecast / Nelson – West Coast / New Zealand
12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Wednesday 17 Sep 2025 NZST
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 Tuesday (Sep 23) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 12 days are 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 21) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 19) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Tue 23rd Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Tue 23rd Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 21st Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 12 days.
Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NW on Wed night, light winds from the WNW by Fri night). | Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 74mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat night, min 9°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (near gales from the N on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NW by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 17 | Thursday 18 | Friday 19 | Saturday 20 | Sunday 21 | Monday 22 | Tuesday 23 | |||||||||||||||||
| PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |||
Rating (10 max) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||
| Wave Height (m) & direction (?) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period(s) (?) | 7 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | ||
Wave (?)Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ (?) | 888 | 1526 | 2669 | 2034 | 1074 | 2006 | 1491 | 884 | 546 | 289 | 98 | 621 | 2431 | 2349 | 929 | 2513 | 971 | 874 | 884 | 445 | 495 | ||
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy | cross- on | cross- on | cross | cross | cross- off | cross- on | on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | on | on | on | on | cross- on | on | on | cross- off | cross- off | cross | on | ||
High Tide / height (m) | 6:39PM 2.69 | 7:15AM 2.62 | 7:43PM 2.84 | 8:11AM 2.78 | 8:33PM 3.00 | 8:56AM 2.94 | 9:14PM 3.13 | 9:35AM 3.07 | 9:50PM 3.22 | 10:09AM 3.16 | 10:23PM 3.26 | 10:42AM 3.20 | 10:56PM 3.25 | 11:14AM 3.20 | |||||||||
Low Tide / height (m) | 1:00AM 0.75 | 1:24PM 0.70 | 2:00AM 0.58 | 2:18PM 0.53 | 2:47AM 0.40 | 3:02PM 0.38 | 3:26AM 0.26 | 3:40PM 0.26 | 4:02AM 0.16 | 4:16PM 0.20 | 4:35AM 0.12 | 4:49PM 0.19 | 5:07AM 0.14 | ||||||||||
Wed 17 | Thursday 18 | Friday 19 | Saturday 20 | Sunday 21 | Monday 22 | Tuesday 23 | |||||||||||||||||
| Sunrise | - | - | 6:24 | - | - | 6:24 | - | - | 6:22 | - | - | 6:20 | - | - | 6:18 | - | - | 6:16 | - | - | 6:15 | ||
| Sunset | 6:20 | - | - | 6:21 | - | - | 6:22 | - | - | 6:22 | - | - | 6:23 | - | - | 6:24 | - | - | 6:25 | - | - | ||
 |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | |||
Rain (mm) | - | 6 | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 10 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 3 | - | 1 | ||
| Temp. °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | ||
| Feels °C (?) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 6 | ||
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Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
Recent Eyeball Surf Reports for Nelson - West Coast
The wind is still cross-on at Farewell Spit (fresh winds from the WNW at FarewellSpitAws 21 km from Farewell Spit). A 3.2m swell from the WNW is too big for here
21 km away, 1 h 21 min ago
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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.
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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