Surf Forecasts:
Kahutara surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, S swell with 1,179 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with ENE 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 25) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. 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 1.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kahutara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a slow start for Kahutara, but don’t walk away just yet—this forecast builds into some serious juice.
The first few days are a write-off, honestly. Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are barely a ripple. Tiny swell, poor conditions, and the combined energy is weak (28 to 108). Not worth suiting up. You’re looking at a gap of a couple of days with nothing to get excited about.
Sunday morning the 26th is where it starts to turn. That early session brings a clean 3 ft swell from the ESE, with a long 15-second period, and light offshore winds from the WNW. The combined energy picks up to a moderate 506, and the water temp is about what you’d expect for this time of year. It’s not the biggest, but it’s clean and has that groundswell push. The spot is a reef and point, so that long period will wrap in nicely.
The real standout, though, is Tuesday the 28th. Morning glassy conditions, offshore wind from the W, and a solid 6 ft swell from the ESE with a 13-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1041—that’s proper moderate-to-strong energy. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The break is fairly consistent, and the swell direction lines up well with the optimum SSE. It will be clean, powerful, and head-high plus. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so get in early.
Wednesday the 29th holds in nicely too, with 5 ft and clean conditions, but Tuesday is the pick of the first week.
Now, looking further out. Saturday the 1st of August has a big pulse: 8 ft from the S, 10-second period, with a massive combined energy of 2486. That’s strong stuff. The morning is clean with a cross-off breeze. This is for experts only—it’s big and powerful. A week later, Wednesday the 5th of August, another big one hits: 8 ft from the S, 12-second period, and 2027 combined energy. Again, glassy morning conditions. That’s a long-range standout, but it’s promising.
And for the patient ones, Saturday the 8th of August sees a 6 ft, 16-second groundswell from the S, with 1718 energy and clean conditions. That’s a beautiful, long-period swell for the reef.
So, the best of the lot? Tuesday the 28th of July (morning) for the clean, powerful, head-high waves with good energy. And if you’re an expert, the 1st and 5th of August are your big days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 3°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | S 9 | ESE 12 | ENE 6 | S 17 | SSW 7 | SE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | E 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 10 | 14 | 15 | 34 | 52 | 542 | 264 | 339 | 316 | 225 | 180 | 523 | 713 | 998 | 960 | 841 | 660 | 540 | 499 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:18AM1.84m | 12:47PM1.92m | 1:07AM1.81m | 1:35PM1.91m | 1:56AM1.79m | 2:23PM1.90m | 2:44AM1.79m | 3:08PM1.89m | 3:28AM1.79m | 3:52PM1.89m | 4:10AM1.78m | 4:34PM1.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:31AM0.65m | 7:12PM0.72m | 7:15AM0.68m | 7:59PM0.73m | 7:59AM0.70m | 8:43PM0.72m | 8:45AM0.69m | 9:25PM0.71m | 9:33AM0.65m | 10:07PM0.68m | 10:19AM0.61m | 10:50PM0.63m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 7 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | E 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 |
| kJ | 10 | 48 | 90 | 34 | 29 | 367 | 187 | 79 | 316 | 225 | 180 | 523 | 713 | 998 | 960 | 841 | 660 | 540 | 499 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | S 9 | S 9 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | ENE 8 | SE 16 | ESE 15 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 11 | S 7 | SSW 14 | S 15 | S 16 | S 15 |
| kJ | 4 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 27 | 23 | 264 | 339 | 63 | 54 | 48 | 34 | 23 | 43 | 8 | 20 | 119 | 242 | 161 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | WSW 3 | S 17 | SE 13 | ENE 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 13 | ESE 13 | S 13 | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 9 | 14 | 15 | 1 | 52 | 44 | 81 | 88 | 82 | 160 | 114 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 8 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | NNE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 353 | 5 | 74 | 542 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | 29 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 452 | 19 | 142 | 9 | 139 | 135 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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