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Last Chance surfForecast / Gisborne and Mahia / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Monday 20 Apr 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Last Chance surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Last Chance sea temperature is
16.8° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Last Chance this week:

The surf forecast for Last Chance over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Apr 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Last Chance in the next 16 days are 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Apr 22) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Apr 21) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Mon 20th Apr)3.5ft (1.1m) 8s
Best Surf 3PM (Tue 21st Apr)6ft (1.9m) 10s
Most Powerful 6AM (Wed 22nd Apr)16ft (5.0m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 45mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon night, near gales from the SSW by Tue night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
3
4
3
0
0
1
2
3
3
2
1
2
1
0
2
2
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.1
ENE
1.1
ENE
1.5
S
1.9
SSE
2.5
SSE
5
SSE
4
SSE
3.5
SSE
3
SSE
2.5
SSE
1.9
SE
1.6
SE
1.4
SE
1.4
SSE
1.3
SSE
1.1
SSE
1.2
SSE
1
S
0.9
SSE
0.9
SSE
0.6
S
Period(s) (?)981010111111101099988991110101116
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)180153443754151854853920206416661004586363295290237197337221176217172
Wind
(km/h)
10
NE
5
WSW
20
W
25
W
35
WSW
55
SSW
40
S
35
S
20
S
20
SSW
10
SW
5
W
10
S
5
W
5
NNE
15
NE
15
NNW
5
SW
10
ESE
5
WSW
5
NNW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on
cross-
off
offoffoffcross-
off
crosscrosscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
glasscrossglasscrosscross-
on
cross-
off
glassoncross-
off
glass
High Tide
/ height (m)
8:06PM
1.93
8:37AM
1.81
8:59PM
1.93
9:34AM
1.78
9:55PM
1.89
10:30AM
1.74
10:54PM
1.82
11:26AM
1.68
11:54PM
1.75
12:22PM
1.61
12:52AM
1.69
1:20PM
1.55
1:47AM
1.63
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:26AM
0.13
2:46PM
0.13
3:24AM
0.11
3:43PM
0.12
4:21AM
0.11
4:40PM
0.12
5:19AM
0.11
5:38PM
0.12
6:17AM
0.12
6:34PM
0.14
7:13AM
0.14
7:31PM
0.18
8:06AM
0.17
Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Sunrise--6:41--6:41--6:43--6:43--6:45--6:46--6:47
Sunset5:32--5:31--5:30--5:29--5:28--5:27--5:24--
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
-6--161652-1-----------
Temp. °C181614151412131313131314141214151416161416
Feels °C (?)1614111011145881013121012121215141315
  • 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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Quick surf report for Last Chance:

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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Last Chance surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Last Chance Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Last Chance provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Last Chance can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Last Chance 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 (Last Chance) 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 Last Chance 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.

Last Chance is 38 km (24 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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