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Surf Forecasts:

Little Wanganui surf break

Little Wanganui surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Wednesday 21 Jan 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Little Wanganui surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Little Wanganui sea temperature is
18.0° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Little Wanganui this week:

The surf forecast for Little Wanganui over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 21) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Little Wanganui in the next 12 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jan 24) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jan 21) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Wed 21st Jan)2.5ft (0.7m) 13s
Best Surf 7AM (Sat 24th Jan)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sat 24th Jan)15ft (4.5m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Little Wanganui over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 52mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri night, calm by Sun night).

Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Monday
26
Tue
27
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
1
0
2
2
2
0
!
!
!
4
2
4
2
2
3
3
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.8
WSW
0.7
WSW
0.7
WSW
0.3
W
0.6
W
0.7
W
0.9
WSW
0.9
WSW
1
W
3
WSW
4.5
W
4.5
W
4
W
3
W
3
W
2.2
W
2
W
1.7
W
1.6
W
1.6
WSW
0.8
WSW
Period(s) (?)13131223212018161691314131212111110101016
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)198145131933143735224375091098615771845331285121471102917539479454333
Wind
(km/h)
15
ESE
10
ESE
10
ESE
10
SE
5
S
15
SW
10
W
10
WSW
15
WSW
25
WSW
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
E
5
NNW
15
WSW
5
E
5
NNW
10
NW
5
SE
5
WSW
10
W
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offoffcross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
on		onononcross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		offglassonglasscrosscross-
on		glassglasson
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:46AM
2.93
1:04PM
3.06
1:23AM
2.94
1:40PM
3.07
2:01AM
2.92
2:19PM
3.03
2:42AM
2.87
3:00PM
2.96
3:27AM
2.79
3:48PM
2.86
4:18AM
2.69
4:43PM
2.73
5:20AM
2.60
5:51PM
2.63
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:54AM
0.26
7:17PM
0.21
7:31AM
0.24
7:55PM
0.20
8:09AM
0.27
8:35PM
0.23
8:51AM
0.33
9:19PM
0.30
9:37AM
0.43
10:09PM
0.41
10:31AM
0.54
11:06PM
0.53
11:35AM
0.64
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Monday
26
Tue
27
Sunrise-6:22--6:22--6:24--6:26--6:26--6:28--6:28-
Sunset--9:01--9:00--9:00--9:00--8:59--8:58--8:58
light rain
light rain
light rain
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
11140412-215-----------
Temp. °C161617171818171716131515141717141717151718
Feels °C (?)15161717191817161471212131715141616151717
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

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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 Little Wanganui 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.

View detailed surf forecast for Little Wanganui at:
surf-forecast.com

Information about the Little Wanganui Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Little Wanganui provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Little Wanganui can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Little Wanganui 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 (Little Wanganui) 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 Little Wanganui 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.

Are you planning a holiday in West Coast South Island? If you are looking for accommodation near Little Wanganui, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in West Coast South Island, consider staying in Nelson which is 102 km (63 miles) away.

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