Kahutara Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.43° S 173.59° E

Issued: 11 am 03 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Kahutara sea temperature is
11.2° C

Normal for this time of year

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


Kahutara surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with 7,931 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 3 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period with E swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kahutara this week:

The surf forecast for Kahutara over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 03) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Kahutara in the next 16 days are 6.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 05) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Fri 3rd Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 11s
Best Surf12AM (Fri 10th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 10s
Most Powerful 9PM (Mon 6th Jul)20ft (6.0m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

G’day, Rusty here. We’re looking at a solid run for Kahutara over the next couple of weeks. This reef and point break is fairly consistent, and when it lines up with an offshore wind, it can be a thing of beauty. Water temp is sitting at 52°F, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.

The action kicks off Friday morning the 3rd of July. We’ve got a clean 3ft swell out of the east with a 10-second period, and a light cross-offshore northwesterly wind. The combined swell energy is moderate (214), and it’s looking like a nice, smooth session.

Saturday morning the 4th is another clean one – 3ft from the east, a longer 12-second period (groundswell), and a nice cross-off breeze. Energy steps up a notch to 303. Sunday morning the 5th is the standout early in the piece: 5ft from the east, 10-second period, and pure offshore wind from the northwest. Clean and punchy with moderate energy (367). This is the best morning of the first week.

Monday the 6th sees the swell jump with a big 15ft southerly on Monday afternoon, but it’s onshore and messy with heavy rain. Tuesday the 7th is one to avoid – 16ft from the south-southeast but straight onshore and howling, with a combined energy of 8174. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine.

We get back into it Wednesday the 8th morning with a cleaner 7ft from the east, cross-off wind, and energy sitting at 2281. This is still solid, but it’s a step up in size – fine for experienced surfers. Thursday the 9th drops to 7ft from the southeast, still clean enough, but nothing to write home about.

Now, the real standout is Friday the 10th. Morning and afternoon both serve up excellent conditions for experienced surfers – 7ft from the southeast, cross-off breeze, and combined energy of 1016 to 1140. Clean, powerful, consistent. If you’ve got the skills, this is your window.

Saturday the 11th morning is a beauty too – 6ft from the east-southeast, glassy offshore wind from the northwest, and clean. A bit more manageable. Sunday the 12th is smaller, 4ft, but still clean enough for a cruise.

Monday the 13th throws up another big one for the experts – 8ft from the south with an 11-second period, and a light offshore wind. Energy is 2628. That’s proper groundswell hitting a reef and point – it’ll bend and barrel.

The second week keeps delivering. Wednesday the 15th is another standout for strong surfers – 7ft from the east with an 11-second period, light winds, and clean conditions both morning and afternoon. Energy sits around 1300. Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th get blown out by strong winds, so skip those.

Then Saturday the 18th morning wraps it up nicely – 4ft from the east-southeast, a very long 13-second period groundswell, and pure offshore wind. Combined energy is moderate (589), but that period means long, clean lines. A beautiful end to the run.

All in all, if you’re after the best on offer, lock in Friday the 10th for quality and power, and Saturday the 11th morning for a clean, fun session. The big days are for the experienced crew. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so get in early.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the SW by Sun night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 199mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon night, min 5°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Mon night, light winds from the WSW by Wed night).

Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
0
2
2
0
3
0
0
3
3
3
2
2
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
E
10
1.1
E
11
1.1
E
13
1
E
12
0.9
E
12
0.9
E
11
1.4
E
10
1.3
ENE
9
0.9
ENE
9
1.3
SSW
8
4.5
S
10
5
SSE
11
5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
2.2
E
11
2.5
E
10
2.4
ESE
10
2.1
SE
9
1.9
ESE
9
2.1
SE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
210
284
398
300
228
195
361
302
147
196
3676
6650
4868
4295
2725
1128
1412
1066
690
617
815
Wind (km/h)
10
NW
10
NE
10
NW
15
NNW
15
NNE
15
N
10
NW
10
SSW
15
WSW
25
WSW
25
S
25
SE
20
ESE
35
SE
25
S
15
SW
20
SW
20
WSW
15
WSW
20
SW
15
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:04PM1.84m
7:35AM1.72m
7:47PM1.83m
8:20AM1.73m
8:33PM1.82m
9:05AM1.75m
9:22PM1.82m
9:50AM1.79m
10:13PM1.84m
10:38AM1.84m
11:04PM1.86m
11:29AM1.90m
11:56PM1.89m
Low Tide
12:53PM0.57m
1:28AM0.58m
1:34PM0.56m
2:09AM0.56m
2:17PM0.55m
2:52AM0.55m
3:02PM0.56m
3:38AM0.55m
3:52PM0.58m
4:28AM0.55m
4:46PM0.59m
5:21AM0.53m
5:44PM0.58m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:54
7:54
7:54
7:54
7:54
7:54
7:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:04
5:04
5:05
5:05
5:06
5:07
5:07
 mm
1
1
3
11
41
50
27
33
34
3
Temp °C
12
13
12
14
14
13
14
13
6
6
10
12
11
12
10
8
7
6
7
7
5
Feels °C
9
10
8
11
11
10
10
10
2
-1
3
8
8
6
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
E
10
1.1
E
11
1.1
E
13
1
E
12
1.2
NE
8
1.7
NE
8
1.4
E
10
1.3
ENE
9
0.9
ENE
9
0.7
E
9
0.8
E
9
5
SSE
11
1.4
E
10
4.5
SSE
10
0.9
E
10
2.2
E
11
2.5
E
10
2.4
ESE
10
2.1
SE
9
1.9
ESE
9
2.1
SE
10
Energy kJ
210
284
398
300
164
326
361
302
147
87
110
5130
400
3769
156
1128
1412
1066
690
617
815
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
NNE
7
0.1
S
15
0.2
NNE
7
0.6
NE
8
0.9
E
12
0.9
E
11
0.4
NE
6
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
15
0.4
S
19
1.8
E
8
0.5
S
15
0.7
ENE
10
1.4
SE
9
1.3
SSE
8
0.3
S
16
0.4
S
16
0.5
S
19
0.6
S
17
Energy kJ
4
4
5
50
228
195
11
5
4
113
454
110
102
328
207
47
79
177
220
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
S
7
0.1
NE
7
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
17
0.2
SSW
16
0.1
S
21
0.4
SSW
19
0.4
SSW
17
0.1
S
18
0.1
S
22
0.3
SSW
19
0.4
SSW
18
Energy kJ
4
2
4
3
5
5
6
24
9
118
96
6
9
71
103
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
NNE
7
3
NNE
8
0.4
SW
3
1.1
SSW
6
1.3
SSW
8
4.5
S
10
5.5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
5
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
2.5
S
8
1.6
SSW
7
1.5
S
7
1.5
SSW
6
0.5
WSW
4
1.4
SW
5
Energy kJ
674
1047
2
82
196
3676
6650
4868
4295
2725
825
268
231
160
8
91
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
5
3
1
6
4
2
4
4
4
3
3
4
Distance (km)
0
33
0
0
19
0
0
9
9
188
155
160
43
172
135
11
11
11
11
11
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
7
4
4
4
3
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
2
3
4
2
4
5
5
4
5
7
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
5
9
5
6
8
5
9
7
5
9
9
8
6
5
9
9
9
5
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)
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Information about the Kahutara Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Kahutara provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kahutara can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kahutara 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 (Kahutara) 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 Kahutara 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.

Kahutara is 106 km (66 miles) from the city of Blenheim. If you plan a holiday in Kaikoura and Marlborough, look for hotels and other accommodation in Blenheim. Blenheim has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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