Surf Forecasts:
Last Chance surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with 2,747 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period with S swell.
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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.7m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s is also forecast. 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 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 9s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Last Chance over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me break down the next 16 days at Last Chance. This is a prime point break, set up for a NE swell, so when the conditions line up, it can be a thing of beauty. Water temp is sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than what we usually see this time of year, so you'll want a decent wetsuit.
We've got a bit of a slow start here. The first few days are pretty average. There's some chest-high swell on Thursday the 20th, around 6 ft from the S, but it's attached to a short, weak 8-second period and a moderate cross-off breeze. The combined energy is moderate at 1205, but the quality just isn't there for a good session. Friday the 21st shapes up a little better. The morning sees a drop in size to 5 ft, but the period jumps to 13 seconds, packing a decent punch with a combined energy of 1078. The winds are light from the NNW, giving us a clean cross-off. That afternoon, the period stretches even further to 16 seconds, but the wind switches onshore from the ENE, which messes with the surface. Saturday the 22nd is small and clean but not much power behind it.
We hit a real flat spell from Sunday the 23rd through to the middle of the following week. The swell drops out, with combined energy falling below 100 in some spots. It's a real struggle to find a wave worth paddling for. Monday the 24th morning does offer a glassy window with a tiny 3 ft swell, but it's a short-period 7-second wave and the energy is weak. Not much to write home about.
Things start to wake up again on Tuesday the 25th. The morning session brings a clean 4 ft swell from the S with a nice 13-second period and a combined energy of 518. The wind is light and cross-off from the WNW. It's a solid, fun, chest-high day. The energy drops a bit by the afternoon, but it's still a decent option.
Now, the real standout is locked in for Monday the 31st of August. The morning is looking absolutely perfect. We've got a solid 7 ft swell from the S, with a very long 16-second period pushing a huge combined energy of 2662. The wind is glassy, just a slight air from the SW, meaning the surface will be like a mirror. This is groundswell, and it's going to wrap beautifully into this point. For experienced surfers, this is the pick of the entire forecast. The afternoon stays big, but the wind picks up a little cross-onshore, so the morning window is the one to target.
The start of September brings some serious size. Tuesday the 1st has a 8 ft swell from the S, but the cross-shore wind and strong onshore in the afternoon make it a tricky one. By Wednesday the 2nd, we're looking at a 10 ft swell from the SSE. That's a big, powerful ocean with a combined energy over 3000. This is strictly for experts, and only if you can handle the size and the inevitable crowd. The wind is a problem in the afternoon, turning it into a choppy mess.
The swell slowly winds down through the rest of the first week of September, with more manageable but still sizable waves. The wind stays a bit of a nuisance, mostly cross or cross-on, so you'll have to be picky about your session.
So, to wrap it up: the first week is a slow burn. The absolute highlight is Monday morning, the 31st of August. Get on it. After that, the first few days of September have the size for the experienced crew, but the wind is a factor.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 13 | S 16 | SSE 13 | S 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ESE 13 | S 9 | S 9 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 15 | S 17 | S 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
477 | 489 | 324 | 663 | 1117 | 690 | 347 | 288 | 170 | 112 | 56 | 33 | 153 | 304 | 2723 | 1001 | 574 | 238 | 153 | 92 | 246 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:22AM1.67m | 11:48PM1.62m | 12:14PM1.62m | 00:35AM1.57m | 1:06PM1.58m | 1:22AM1.51m | 1:56PM1.54m | 2:10AM1.45m | 2:43PM1.52m | 2:58AM1.40m | 3:28PM1.49m | 3:46AM1.38m | 4:13PM1.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:41PM0.40m | 6:03AM0.41m | 6:30PM0.44m | 6:49AM0.45m | 7:20PM0.47m | 7:35AM0.46m | 8:10PM0.48m | 8:23AM0.46m | 8:57PM0.47m | 9:11AM0.44m | 9:43PM0.43m | 10:00AM0.41m | 10:29PM0.39m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 8 | S 13 | S 16 | SSE 13 | S 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ESE 13 | S 9 | S 9 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 16 |
261 | 180 | 324 | 663 | 1117 | 690 | 347 | 288 | 170 | 112 | 56 | 33 | 153 | 304 | 2723 | 1001 | 574 | 238 | 98 | 67 | 246 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSW 5 | ESE 13 | S 17 | ESE 13 | E 13 | ESE 13 | S 16 | S 15 | S 17 | SSE 8 |
430 | 163 | 113 | 149 | 118 | 52 | 25 | 7 | 29 | 34 | 34 | 2 | 34 | 91 | 35 | 13 | 17 | 77 | 153 | 92 | 24 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 12 | S 16 | — | SSE 17 | E 15 | E 14 | ESE 11 | E 13 | S 19 | SSE 10 | NE 5 | ESE 13 | — | NE 11 | NE 5 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | S 13 | ESE 13 |
18 | 18 | 108 | 264 | — | 55 | 4 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 35 | — | 4 | 1 | 19 | 17 | 30 | 34 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | NW 3 | N 3 | N 4 | W 3 | WNW 2 | — | — | NNE 4 | — | NNE 3 | WNW 3 | — | NW 2 |
477 | 489 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 23 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











