
Surf Forecasts:
Kahutara surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, E swell with 3,627 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s 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 Saturday (Jul 04) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 12s period. 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 4.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Saturday (Jul 04) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sat 4th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kahutara over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what we've got on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, this isn't a perfect run, but there are some serious moments to get excited about. We start with a bit of a slow burner. July 4th and 5th have knee to waist high waves on offer, around 3 ft to 5 ft. The swell direction is a bit odd for Kahutara, coming out of the E and ENE. Still, the wind is pretty light and cross-offshore, so it'll be clean even if the energy is modest at 303.
Things get real on July 7th Tuesday afternoon. A big pulse arrives swinging from the ESE, 13 ft of swell, with a moderate offshore wind blowing out of the West. That’s a proper combination. The combined energy is over 2900, which is serious power. This is for experienced surfers only—too big for anyone not confident in heavy water. The sets will be tricky with that 10-second period, so you need to be on your game. Wednesday the 8th though, shut down by onshore wind and chop, so don't get caught out.
There's another window Friday the 10th. It's smaller, around 8 ft from the E, with cleaner cross-offshore winds and a combined energy of 1975. It looks surfable, but the best of the week is shaping up for the morning of Saturday July 11th. The swell is pushing 8 ft from the ESE, energy is strong, and we’ve got clean, cross-offshore winds.
Fast forward to the 17th, and that’s looking like the standout of the entire forecast. Friday the 17th is an absolute dream scenario. Swell at a solid 7 ft, but it’s a groundswell with periods of 18 and 16 seconds. That’s very long period, meaning heaps of energy—so much that Kahutara’s reef and point setup will handle it perfectly, carving up those long lines. On Friday morning, there's a light offshore WNW breeze, and by the afternoon it goes glassy. The energy readings are massive, over 2400 and 2100. This is a full-blown, clean, powerful, glassy groundswell. If you can only paddle out once in this window, make it the 17th.
The water temps are sitting at 52°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so a standard 4/3 with booties will be the play.
Before that, there are a few days with smaller stuff but nice conditions. Monday afternoon July 13th will be glassy with chest high waves from the E, a treat for a relaxed session. Tuesday the 14th also sees a return of glassy conditions but smaller at 3 ft.
The last few days of the run on the 18th and 19th are cleaner small surf, around waist to chest high, as that big groundswell fades. The morning of the 19th has a little energy left with glassy winds, a nice way to end the hunt.
Overall, this place is fairly consistent, so when there are a couple of rough days, don't stress—it turns back on quick. Keep your eyes peeled for that 17th, that's the one.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 124mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 247mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Tue afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Tue night, fresh winds from the S by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | S 6 | S 7 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
300 | 228 | 192 | 304 | 308 | 131 | 180 | 729 | 1229 | 2519 | 2849 | 1922 | 1154 | 3627 | 3181 | 2096 | 2894 | 2430 | 697 | 1599 | 1733 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 12:25PM1.98m | 00:52AM1.93m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:14AM0.49m | 6:45PM0.55m | ||||||||
7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | |
— | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 11 | 32 | 75 | 31 | 17 | 40 | 16 | 14 | 55 | 23 | 21 | 30 | 10 | 7 | 6 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | NE 8 | E 11 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 9 | S 15 | SSE 8 | E 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 11 |
300 | 169 | 192 | 304 | 308 | 123 | 115 | 115 | 1229 | 399 | 71 | 266 | 1154 | 3003 | 2570 | 2096 | 2894 | 2430 | 697 | 1599 | 1733 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | E 12 | S 16 | NNE 7 | S 16 | S 15 | S 19 | S 17 | S 9 | S 16 | — | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 17 | S 16 | S 19 | S 18 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | S 19 |
46 | 228 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 112 | 148 | 601 | 79 | — | 69 | 38 | 55 | 86 | 77 | 116 | 97 | 402 | 105 | 118 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 16 | — | S 17 | SSW 16 | S 21 | ESE 6 | — | S 16 | — | — | — | S 20 | S 18 | — | S 22 | — | — | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 |
3 | 5 | — | 6 | 24 | 9 | 3 | — | 129 | — | — | — | 8 | 26 | — | 9 | — | — | 87 | 80 | 43 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 8 | NE 8 | — | SW 3 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 7 | — | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SSE 7 | E 11 | ESE 11 | S 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 6 |
— | 693 | 326 | — | 4 | 131 | 180 | 729 | — | 2519 | 2849 | 1922 | 197 | 3627 | 3181 | 306 | 906 | 1500 | 365 | 191 | 220 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 19 | 133 | 9 | 165 | 133 | 134 | 0 | 106 | 128 | 43 | 135 | 172 | 138 | 138 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










