Surf Forecasts:
Kahutara surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, S swell with 7,751 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period with S 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 (Sep 11) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kahutara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, checking in with a look at what's coming down the pipe for Kahutara. This is a reef and point setup, good for beginners on the right days, and it's fairly consistent. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.
We've got a bit of a slow start, but it's worth the wait. The real fireworks kick off on Saturday the 12th. Friday the 11th is a tease with clean, small 2ft groundswell from the south, period way up at 17 to 18 seconds. The wind is glassy and cross-off, making for a nice, clean session on the longboard, but the energy is only moderate (340 to 391).
Then Saturday morning, the 12th, is the undeniable standout. The swell jumps to 6ft from the south, with a very long period of 16 seconds and a massive energy reading of 1589. The wind is glassy, dead calm. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – the size and power will be too much for beginners. The long period means the waves will be lined up and powerful, perfect for the point there. Saturday afternoon gets a bit bigger at 8ft but the wind swings onshore, making it messy.
Sunday the 13th is still a top pick. Morning glass with 5ft of south swell, period at 13 seconds and energy at 1131. Again, excellent for experienced surfers. The point should handle the longer period just fine.
Monday the 14th sees the swell drop to 4ft and 4ft, but the wind remains glassy. It's clean, fun surf with moderate energy.
We hit a flat spell from Tuesday the 15th through the end of the week. The energy drops right off, down to a weak 17. There's a bit of a pulse on Friday the 18th with a massive 12ft south swell, energy at 5490, but the wind is strong and cross-off. That's big, heavy, and only for experts. The 18th afternoon sees the wind turn messy.
Saturday the 19th morning offers a small window of clean 4ft surf with light wind, but it's not the same quality as the weekend before. After that, it's mostly small, weak, and choppy until Wednesday the 23rd afternoon. That afternoon, we see a 2ft south swell, period of 19 seconds, with a solid offshore wind from the WNW. The energy is moderate (358) and it will be clean, but it's small.
The best of the whole run is without a doubt Saturday morning the 12th and Sunday morning the 13th. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 4°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | S 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 6 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 238 | 304 | 380 | 326 | 1571 | 3395 | 2460 | 848 | 1074 | 535 | 396 | 290 | 151 | 76 | 55 | 23 | 13 | 139 | 82 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:53AM1.99m | 4:20PM2.04m | 4:46AM1.98m | 5:12PM2.02m | 5:42AM1.98m | 6:05PM1.99m | 6:38AM1.99m | 6:58PM1.95m | 7:31AM2.00m | 7:51PM1.91m | 8:20AM1.99m | 8:43PM1.87m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:45PM0.35m | 10:12AM0.31m | 10:39PM0.36m | 11:05AM0.33m | 11:33PM0.38m | 11:57AM0.38m | 00:24AM0.41m | 12:48PM0.45m | 1:12AM0.46m | 1:39PM0.53m | 1:59AM0.53m | 2:30PM0.60m | 2:46AM0.61m | ||||||
 |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | |  |  | |
 | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 7 |
Temp °C | 6 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 7 |
Feels °C | 2 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | S 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | NE 8 | SSE 6 | S 15 |
| kJ | 85 | 304 | 380 | 326 | 1571 | 3395 | 2460 | 848 | 1074 | 535 | 396 | 290 | 151 | 76 | 55 | 23 | 31 | 139 | 39 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 6 | ESE 7 | NNE 6 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | S 17 | NE 12 | NE 12 | S 16 | S 15 | S 16 | S 15 | NE 6 | NE 4 | S 8 | S 14 | E 14 |
| kJ | 238 | 25 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 268 | 6 | 5 | 78 | 72 | 43 | 39 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ESE 8 | NE 4 | ESE 7 | E 7 | — | — | ENE 12 | SE 10 | SE 10 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 3 | ENE 4 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 15 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 3 | — | SSE 3 | — | — | NE 3 | SW 4 | — | — | NE 3 | NE 3 | NNE 4 | — | — | NNE 6 | WSW 2 | NE 6 | S 5 |
| kJ | — | 5 | — | 4 | — | — | 5 | 10 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 58 | 1 | 5 | 82 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 43 | 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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