Kahutara Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.43° S 173.59° E

Issued: 5 am 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Kahutara sea temperature is
11.3° C

Slightly warmer than usual

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


Kahutara surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 2,258 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with ESE 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 10) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 17s. Another secondary swell of 1.5m and 6s is also forecast. 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Fri 10th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Best Surf 3AM (Fri 10th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 9PM (Thu 9th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 10s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Righto, let’s have a look at what Kahutara’s got cookin’ for us. This is a reef and point set-up that’s fairly consistent, and it’s exposed to the swell, so it can pull in some decent energy. The water temp is sitting at 52°, which is about 0.9° warmer than normal for this time of year—nothing too wild, just a touch on the mild side.

We’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands, though. The first couple of days are pretty grim. Monday the 6th has a tiny 2ft south swell with a super long 19-second period, but it’s cross-off and just too small to get excited about. Tuesday the 7th is a write-off with heavy rain and strong cross-on winds—big, lumpy, and ugly. Wednesday the 8th and Thursday the 9th see some size (8ft to 10ft) but the wind is all over the shop and it’s messy. Not worth paddling out for.

Friday the 10th starts to clean up a little. We’ve got 8ft from the ESE with a 10-second period, and the wind swings cross-off with a gentle breeze. It’s still marginal, but you could find a sneaky one if you’re keen. The combined energy is moderate (1548). Saturday the 11th morning looks better: 6ft ESE swell, light cross-off breeze, clean conditions, and the energy drops to 930. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Sunday the 12th morning is clean with a 5ft ESE swell and light NW cross-off winds, but the energy is weak (472). From Monday the 13th through to Thursday the 16th, it’s all small stuff—under 3ft, mostly ordinary, not worth chasing.

Now, Friday the 17th of July, we get a little pulse. The morning has 5ft south swell (6-second period) and light WSW cross-off winds, producing 351 units of energy. It’s clean and surfable, but the period is short so it’ll be a bit crumbly. Saturday the 18th morning is similar with 4ft south swell and light offshore WNW winds—clean again, but still small.

But hold onto your board, because Sunday the 19th is the absolute standout of this whole outlook. We’ve got a massive 18ft SE groundswell with a very long 14-second period, light cross-off NW winds, and the combined energy is absolutely pumping at 12364. This is expert-only territory—over 8ft, deep, powerful, and very long period. On a reef and point like Kahutara, this is where it gets serious. Expect heavy, well-shaped sets with long waits between them. Sunday afternoon is glassy with a 16ft SE swell and 13-second period (8654 energy), equally epic but still for experts only. Crowds are likely here, and for good reason.

Monday the 20th drops to a still solid 8ft SE swell (11-second period) with clean cross-off winds. That’s an excellent window for experienced surfers, with strong energy (2247). It’s big but not quite as terrifying as Sunday.

After that, Tuesday the 21st fades fast. Morning has 4ft SE swell (9-second period) with light cross-off winds, and the afternoon turns glassy with a 4ft SE swell. It’s small and clean, a nice easy finish to the run.

If you’re a beginner, steer clear of the 17th to 20th—it’s too big. For the rest, the real gold is Sunday the 19th at Kahutara. That’s the one.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 213mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon night, min 6°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Thu morning, min 3°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Thu morning, light winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon).

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
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
1
0
0
0
3
3
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
19
1.6
S
6
1.6
S
9
3.5
SE
9
2.5
E
9
3
E
11
2.4
E
11
2.4
E
11
2.5
E
10
2.5
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
2.5
ESE
10
2.2
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
1.7
ESE
10
1.6
ESE
10
1.4
ESE
9
1.1
ESE
9
1.1
ESE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
180
187
450
2065
1178
1873
1313
1269
1330
1450
2001
1802
1294
1019
712
692
550
461
307
216
214
Wind (km/h)
20
WSW
25
WSW
20
SSE
30
SSE
25
SSE
15
WSW
20
SW
25
SSW
35
S
30
SSW
25
SSW
15
SSW
15
WSW
20
SW
15
W
10
W
10
SSW
10
NW
10
NW
10
NE
10
NW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
9:05AM1.75m
9:22PM1.82m
9:50AM1.79m
10:13PM1.84m
10:38AM1.84m
11:04PM1.86m
11:29AM1.90m
11:56PM1.89m
12:25PM1.98m
00:52AM1.93m
1:22PM2.06m
1:51AM1.97m
2:19PM2.14m
2:51AM2.02m
Low Tide
3:02PM0.56m
3:38AM0.55m
3:52PM0.58m
4:28AM0.55m
4:46PM0.59m
5:21AM0.53m
5:44PM0.58m
6:14AM0.49m
6:45PM0.55m
7:07AM0.44m
7:45PM0.49m
8:01AM0.39m
8:42PM0.41m
light rain
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
mod rain
mod rain
heavy rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:54
7:54
7:54
7:54
7:52
7:52
7:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:05
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:08
 mm
4
5
57
34
44
31
13
16
9
7
14
5
Temp °C
7
8
12
12
11
9
8
10
9
8
7
7
6
6
4
7
8
4
8
9
5
Feels °C
2
3
6
6
6
6
3
4
2
1
2
2
0
0
-1
3
4
0
5
6
1
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
ENE
10
0.8
E
9
1.6
S
9
0.4
S
16
2.5
E
9
3
E
11
2.4
E
11
2.4
E
11
2.5
E
10
2.5
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
2.5
ESE
10
2.2
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
1.7
ESE
10
1.6
ESE
10
1.4
ESE
9
1.1
ESE
9
1.1
ESE
10
Energy kJ
123
113
450
79
1178
1873
1313
1269
1330
1450
2001
1802
1294
1019
712
692
550
461
307
216
214
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
S
19
0.5
S
17
1.1
E
10
0.5
S
16
0.4
S
15
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
0.4
S
16
0.4
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
15
0.5
S
17
0.7
S
16
0.7
S
16
0.4
SSW
10
0.4
S
9
0.5
S
17
0.6
S
16
0.6
S
15
0.6
S
15
0.6
S
13
Energy kJ
112
148
231
127
72
69
66
38
82
79
72
154
254
245
32
24
137
181
165
153
130
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
19
0.5
S
16
0.1
S
20
0.2
S
18
0.1
S
22
0.2
S
19
0.5
S
11
0.4
S
15
0.4
S
18
0.5
S
8
0.4
S
8
Energy kJ
180
129
7
25
9
30
57
73
101
35
20
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SSW
5
1.6
S
6
1.2
ESE
6
3.5
SE
9
2.5
SSE
8
1.6
SSE
7
1.1
SSE
7
1.3
SSE
6
2.3
S
7
2.5
S
8
2
S
8
1.5
SSW
7
0.6
WSW
4
0.5
WSW
4
1
S
6
0.9
SSW
9
0.8
SSW
8
0.6
SSW
4
Energy kJ
66
187
90
2065
807
292
118
143
585
870
503
189
10
8
73
113
80
9
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
2
2
4
3
3
2
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
Distance (km)
9
143
133
133
138
135
11
172
172
138
179
54
11
11
0
0
19
0
0
33
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
5
5
4
6
5
5
4
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
5
6
5
8
5
5
8
6
5
5
  • 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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