Surf Forecasts:
Napier - Hardings Road surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, ENE swell with 39 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Napier - Hardings Road this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Napier - Hardings Road in the next 16 days are 0.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) 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 1.7m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Napier - Hardings Road over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for the Napier area, specifically Hardings Road.
Honestly, I'm looking at this 16-day window and it's a tough one. The overall pattern is as flat as a pancake. We've got a run of nothing but tiny, weak dribbles. The combined wave energy is barely registering, mostly single digits, which is about as weak as it gets. There are long gaps with absolutely nothing surfable.
For a point break like Hardings Road, which is sheltered and inconsistent at the best of times, this is a real dry spell. The first solid hint of anything doesn't show up until Monday the 21st of September, and even then it's marginal. Prior to that, we're looking at days and days of flatness.
Let's be honest, the best on offer is still pretty poor. If you're desperate for a splash, keep an eye on Monday the 21st of September morning at Napier - Hardings Road. There's a tiny 1ft east swell rolling in. The combined energy is 21, so it's just weak. The silver lining is a light offshore wind from the west keeping it clean. Don't expect much shape from an 8-second period, it'll be soft and mushy. The water temp is 54°, which is about two and a half degrees colder than usual for this time of year, so grab a thick suit.
Beyond that, there are a few other days with similar 0.6ft to 1ft bumps, like Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd of September, but the winds get strong. On the 23rd, we get a strong offshore from the SSW at 25-28 mph. That will clean it up, but that also makes paddling into a 1ft wave near impossible. It's more of a wind-sports day than a paddle-surf day.
Honestly, for this stretch, the setup at Hardings Road looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on those windy days. It's a lean run, but that's Napier for you in the spring. Forecasts can always change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | SSE 16 | E 9 | E 12 | E 9 | SE 7 | E 11 | E 13 | E 13 | ENE 5 | E 12 | E 12 | E 14 | E 5 | E 19 | ENE 4 | ESE 13 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:51AM1.69m | 7:10PM1.72m | 7:40AM1.73m | 7:59PM1.71m | 8:25AM1.75m | 8:47PM1.69m | 9:09AM1.74m | 9:34PM1.66m | 9:53AM1.70m | 10:20PM1.62m | 10:40AM1.64m | 11:06PM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:40AM0.15m | 12:57PM0.16m | 1:28AM0.20m | 1:47PM0.22m | 2:14AM0.25m | 2:38PM0.27m | 3:00AM0.31m | 3:26PM0.32m | 3:46AM0.37m | 4:14PM0.37m | 4:33AM0.40m | 5:00PM0.40m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  | | |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 11 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 10 |
Feels °C | 5 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 16 | SE 7 | S 14 | SE 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ENE 5 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 15 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 274 | 18 | 4 | 89 | 16 | 16 | 23 | 40 | 35 | 13 | 29 | 24 | 19 | 47 | 40 | 89 | 198 | 202 | 125 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SSE 16 | S 19 | E 12 | SSE 11 | S 12 | SSE 12 | E 10 | E 9 | SE 9 | ENE 4 | E 12 | E 3 | E 5 | E 19 | ESE 11 | S 6 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 |
| kJ | 1 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 45 | 3 | 1 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | S 20 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 16 | E 11 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | — | E 14 | S 8 | S 8 | ENE 4 | S 18 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | E 3 | — | — | E 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 16 | 188 | 1 | 20 | 89 | 20 | 1 | 90 | 20 | 20 | 46 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Hawkes Bay | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Napier - Hardings Road Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Napier - Hardings Road provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Napier - Hardings Road can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Napier - Hardings Road 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 (Napier - Hardings Road) 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 Napier - Hardings Road 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.
Napier - Hardings Road is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of Napier. If you plan a holiday in Hawkes Bay, look for hotels and other accommodation in Napier. Napier has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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