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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 am Friday 23 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
17.3° 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 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore 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 Thursday (Jan 29) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Sat 24th Jan)8ft (2.5m) 10s
Best Surf 7AM (Sat 24th Jan)8ft (2.5m) 10s
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 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, near gales from the WSW by Sun afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Mainly strong winds.

Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Monday
26
Tuesday
27
Wednesday
28
Thursday
29
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
4
0
2
0
0
3
3
0
1
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.1
NNW
1.2
NNW
1.6
NW
3
WNW
3.5
WNW
3
W
2.5
W
3.5
W
2.2
W
1.6
W
2
W
1.3
W
1
W
0.6
W
0.6
W
0.6
W
1
W
0.3
W
1.4
W
0.1
N
0.5
W
Period(s) (?)12128111313131211109881615141420181216
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)3733553062031464629142258297612444906372171271781501483666812183127
Wind
(km/h)
35
WNW
35
WNW
40
WNW
5
NNE
50
W
30
WSW
40
W
55
WSW
20
WSW
5
WSW
40
W
25
ESE
15
SE
20
ESE
25
ESE
15
ESE
30
WNW
35
W
35
WNW
45
W
30
W
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscrosscrossglasscrosscross-
off		crosscross-
off		cross-
off		glasscrosscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		crosscrosscrosscrosscross
High Tide
/ height (m)
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
7:16AM
2.73
7:49PM
2.72
Low Tide
/ height (m)
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
1:36PM
0.73
2:09AM
0.61
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Monday
26
Tuesday
27
Wednesday
28
Thursday
29
Sunrise6:24--6:24--6:26--6:28--6:28--6:30--6:31--
Sunset-8:55--8:54--8:53--8:52--8:52--8:52--8:51-
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
--5--------4---------
Temp. °C181716171716171716181817161616161817181817
Feels °C (?)131111108101079141113141211151311111011
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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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