Farewell Spit Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.51° S 172.76° E

Issued: 11 am 07 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Farewell Spit sea temperature is
14.9° C

1.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year

Farewell Spit surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Farewell Spit surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 12s period, WNW swell with 1,402 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period with W swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Farewell Spit this week:

The surf forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Farewell Spit in the next 16 days are 2.2m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Wed 8th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf12PM (Fri 10th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 16s
Most Powerful 6PM (Tue 14th Jul)7ft (2.2m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Farewell Spit over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSE on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun night, min 8°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
2
0
1
2
2
1
2
3
1
2
2
3
2
2
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
W
16
1.1
W
15
0.7
W
14
0.7
W
14
0.7
W
13
1.1
W
12
1.6
W
16
1.3
W
14
1
W
18
1.2
W
17
1.1
W
16
0.9
W
16
0.8
W
18
1.1
W
16
1.2
W
16
1
W
16
1
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.6
W
15
1.8
NNW
6
1.9
NW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
928
530
198
187
158
362
1226
701
628
851
605
391
389
636
728
483
441
271
150
248
534
Wind (km/h)
45
ESE
45
SSE
35
SE
5
SE
10
NW
25
SSE
25
SSE
20
ESE
25
SE
20
ESE
5
E
20
ESE
15
ESE
10
E
15
SE
15
ESE
10
ESE
10
NNE
25
N
40
NNW
25
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
cross
High Tide
2:53PM2.75m
3:13AM2.86m
3:47PM2.72m
4:10AM2.80m
4:50PM2.73m
5:15AM2.78m
5:57PM2.78m
6:24AM2.82m
7:04PM2.90m
7:32AM2.92m
8:08PM3.06m
8:35AM3.05m
9:06PM3.24m
Low Tide
9:02PM0.64m
9:36AM0.55m
9:59PM0.70m
10:34AM0.58m
11:04PM0.71m
11:39AM0.57m
00:13AM0.67m
12:46PM0.51m
1:21AM0.55m
1:50PM0.40m
2:25AM0.38m
2:49PM0.26m
mod rain
light rain
cloud
clear
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:52
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:17
5:19
5:19
 mm
8
5
1
1
9
3
Temp °C
14
13
13
13
13
12
12
13
11
8
9
9
9
10
10
10
11
12
14
14
14
Feels °C
6
3
3
11
11
6
5
7
4
3
6
5
4
7
7
6
8
8
7
6
8
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
W
16
1.1
W
15
0.7
W
14
0.7
ESE
6
0.7
W
13
1.1
W
12
1.8
ESE
8
1.3
W
14
1
W
18
1.2
W
17
1.1
W
16
0.9
W
16
0.8
W
18
1.1
W
16
1.2
W
16
1
W
16
1
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.6
W
15
0.5
W
14
1.4
NNE
7
Energy kJ
928
530
198
43
158
362
404
701
628
851
605
391
389
636
728
483
441
271
150
99
173
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
N
8
0.7
N
8
0.4
WSW
8
0.7
W
14
0.5
E
5
0.8
ESE
6
1.6
W
16
1.1
E
7
0.9
W
14
0.2
WNW
16
0.3
W
21
0.6
W
14
0.1
N
12
0.2
ENE
3
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.7
NNW
7
Energy kJ
107
57
24
187
12
51
1226
134
320
25
76
142
3
1
2
2
57
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
N
7
0.2
W
20
0.5
W
7
0.7
W
17
0.3
W
22
0.6
W
20
0.1
NW
14
0.1
E
6
0.1
E
5
0.3
E
4
0.1
N
12
0.1
N
14
0.1
N
13
0.4
W
14
Energy kJ
9
30
24
281
82
268
8
1
1
3
3
4
4
62
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
ESE
7
2
ESE
6
2
ESE
7
0.7
ESE
6
1.3
ESE
7
2.3
ESE
8
1.4
ESE
8
1.1
ESE
7
1
E
5
0.9
E
6
0.8
E
5
0.4
ESE
4
0.1
E
12
0.3
E
3
0.1
NE
12
0.5
N
4
1.2
N
5
1.8
NNW
6
1.9
NW
8
Energy kJ
395
299
394
29
134
666
232
121
45
52
33
6
3
1
6
6
73
248
534
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
4
3
2
3
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
4
4
3
2
2
3
2
1
1
Distance (km)
91
39
17
0
115
17
17
7
17
17
0
26
17
17
0
0
0
39
115
212
83
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - West Coast
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
3
4
6
7
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
2
2
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
7
9
8
9
7
7
6
7
5
5
5
5
5
5
9
9
7
5
6
  • 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
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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 16 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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