Kahutara Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.43° S 173.59° E

Issued: 11 am 05 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: Tuesday 7 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with 2,767 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 2.4m and 9s 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 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Tue 7th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 9s
Best Surf 6AM (Tue 7th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 9s
Most Powerful 3AM (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

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's comin' our way for the next couple of weeks. We've got a bit of a mixed bag on the cards, but there are some definite windows to get excited about.

The pattern starts off a little messy, but hang tight. Sunday morning is a decent little window to start the week. A clean 5 ft swell from the ENE, light offshore winds from the NW – that's a good look. The wave energy is moderate at 361, and the water temp is sitting at 52°F which is about average for the time of year. Not a standout, but a nice, honest Sunday morning surf.

That afternoon, the wind swings onshore and things go a bit lumpy. Monday is a write-off, with a brief window of tiny, clean surf in the morning from a long-period groundswell, but it's just too small to get excited about. The rest of the week looks big and blown out – we're talking 8 ft to 12 ft of messy, cross-shore chop with heavy rain. That's not paddle-friendly. A heads up for the kite crew though, that Tuesday morning through Thursday with 10 ft to 12 ft of lumpy ESE swell and cross winds could be your jam.

Now, here’s where we get the first real standout. Friday, 10th July – the clouds clear and we get an excellent session for experienced surfers. 10 ft of clean ESE swell hitting Kahutara (New Zealand) with a nice 11-second period and a cross-offshore breeze out of the WSW. The energy is strong at 2231. That's a big, powerful, clean day for the crew who know what they're doing.

The weekend of the 12th settles down nicely. Sunday morning is a really good, clean option with 5 ft from the ESE and light offshore winds. The energy is still solid at 585. It's clean, it's fun, it's a good one for everyone.

The following week has more promise. Tuesday morning, 14th July is another standout for experienced surfers – a clean 8 ft swell from the S, light cross-offshore breeze, and a powerful energy reading of 1017.

But the absolute pick of the bunch, the true gem, looks like Wednesday 15th July. We've got a clean 8 ft groundswell from the SE with a very long 12-second period. The morning has a light offshore WNW wind, and the afternoon goes glassy – dead flat calm from the NNE. The energy is pumping at 1560 and 1402. That is a day for the point and reef at Kahutara, where that long-period groundswell will really wrap in and line up. That's your session to circle on the calendar, though being two weeks out, keep an eye on the forecast.

The days after that ease back down with clean, smaller waves into the 3 ft to 6 ft range, perfect for a longboard or a fun fish. We do fade out by the 20th of July with a long gap of small, weak surf.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 203mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 67mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Wed morning, min 4°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
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
1
1
0
2
3
2
4
2
1
0
1
2
3
4
3
3
3
2
3
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
ENE
9
1.3
ENE
9
1
ENE
9
0.5
S
19
2.1
S
7
3.5
S
9
3.5
ESE
9
2.5
E
9
2.5
E
10
2.5
E
11
3
E
11
3.5
ESE
11
3.5
SE
10
3.5
SE
10
3
SE
10
3
ESE
11
2.5
ESE
10
2.3
ESE
11
2.2
ESE
11
2
ESE
10
1.7
ESE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
355
243
189
180
403
1838
1901
1212
1412
1719
2116
2620
2110
2124
1730
1980
1420
1230
1060
823
586
Wind (km/h)
10
NW
10
S
20
WSW
15
WSW
20
S
25
SW
15
SSW
20
S
10
SW
20
S
25
S
30
S
30
S
25
SSW
20
WSW
15
WSW
20
SW
15
W
15
WSW
15
SW
15
WSW
Wind State
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
1:22PM2.06m
1:51AM1.97m
Low Tide
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
7:07AM0.44m
7:45PM0.49m
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
mod rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
part 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
7:52
7:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:05
5:05
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
 mm
2
9
72
39
39
42
16
10
15
11
12
3
Temp °C
14
13
7
8
10
9
10
9
9
10
10
9
8
7
7
6
6
5
7
7
5
Feels °C
13
11
2
4
6
2
6
5
6
5
4
3
1
1
2
1
0
-1
2
2
1
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
ENE
9
1.3
ENE
9
1
ENE
9
0.8
E
10
0.8
E
10
1.9
E
9
0.4
S
16
1.8
S
8
2.5
E
10
2.5
E
11
3
E
11
3.5
ESE
11
0.4
SSW
15
3
SE
10
3
SE
10
3
ESE
11
2.5
ESE
10
2.3
ESE
11
2.2
ESE
11
2
ESE
10
1.7
ESE
10
Energy kJ
355
243
189
120
117
550
79
418
1412
1719
2116
2620
77
1662
1730
1980
1420
1230
1060
823
586
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NE
7
0.6
E
10
0.1
S
15
0.4
S
19
0.5
S
17
0.5
S
16
0.4
S
15
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
0.4
S
16
0.1
S
22
0.5
S
14
0.5
S
17
0.7
S
16
0.5
S
16
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
18
0.5
S
17
0.6
S
16
Energy kJ
12
75
4
112
148
129
71
69
66
38
82
9
106
145
251
127
50
150
147
198
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
22
0.5
S
19
0.5
S
15
0.1
S
19
0.2
S
18
0.1
S
22
0.3
S
19
0.3
SSW
11
0.4
SSW
11
0.4
S
15
0.4
S
9
0.4
S
9
0.4
S
8
Energy kJ
6
5
9
180
110
7
25
9
66
22
37
73
25
24
22
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SW
5
1.2
SSW
6
2.1
S
7
3.5
S
9
3.5
ESE
9
2.5
E
9
1.4
SSE
7
1
S
7
1.6
S
7
1
S
7
3.5
SE
10
3.5
SE
10
1.8
SSW
6
1.3
SW
5
0.5
WSW
4
1.5
SSW
5
1.4
S
6
0.7
SW
4
0.3
WSW
3
Energy kJ
53
90
403
1838
1901
1212
199
94
229
92
2110
2124
226
92
8
117
132
16
2
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
5
1
1
2
4
2
2
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
Distance (km)
0
9
11
9
190
134
134
138
0
135
135
172
172
179
54
0
11
11
11
11
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
7
5
6
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
5
5
5
8
7
6
8
  • 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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