Little Wanganui surf break

Little Wanganui surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Thursday 23 Apr 2026 NZST
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
17.1° C
(Which is 1.4°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Little Wanganui this week:

The surf forecast for Little Wanganui over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Apr 23) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Little Wanganui in the next 16 days are 2.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Apr 30) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Thu 23rd Apr)2ft (0.6m) 16s
Best Surf 3AM (Mon 27th Apr)6ft (1.8m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Thu 30th Apr)8ft (2.5m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Little Wanganui over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
2
1
2
3
2
3
2
1
3
4
3
4
3
1
3
4
4
1
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WSW
18
0.5
W
17
0.7
WSW
16
0.8
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
14
0.7
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
16
1.3
WSW
15
1.1
WSW
14
1
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
12
1.3
WSW
16
2
WSW
15
2.2
WSW
14
2.1
WSW
13
1.8
WSW
8
1.7
WSW
9
1.7
WSW
12
1.6
WSW
12
1.5
WSW
13
2.5
WSW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
104
149
256
273
265
176
778
754
471
361
387
823
1613
1833
1467
414
408
767
706
681
975
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
10
NNW
5
E
5
ESE
10
WSW
5
E
5
ESE
10
SW
5
E
5
E
10
WSW
5
SSE
5
ENE
10
WSW
5
SE
5
ESE
15
SW
5
ESE
5
SE
0
NNW
15
SW
off
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-on
High Tide
3:08PM2.65m
3:41AM2.69m
4:23PM2.52m
4:57AM2.61m
5:40PM2.49m
6:11AM2.63m
6:49PM2.54m
7:13AM2.70m
7:45PM2.65m
8:04AM2.78m
8:31PM2.75m
8:48AM2.86m
9:12PM2.84m
Low Tide
9:23PM0.60m
10:05AM0.60m
10:34PM0.71m
11:19AM0.65m
11:47PM0.72m
12:29PM0.61m
00:53AM0.65m
1:28PM0.51m
1:49AM0.55m
2:17PM0.42m
2:36AM0.46m
3:00PM0.34m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:11
7:11
7:13
7:13
7:15
7:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:49
5:47
5:45
5:45
5:43
5:42
5:40
3
Temp °C
14
14
10
14
14
10
14
15
11
15
15
13
14
15
12
14
15
11
13
14
16
12
12
8
12
12
8
12
13
10
14
13
12
14
14
10
12
12
9
11
13
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WSW
12
0.5
WSW
13
0.7
WSW
16
0.8
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
14
0.7
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
16
1.3
WSW
15
1.1
WSW
14
1
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
12
1.3
WSW
16
2
WSW
15
0.1
N
13
2.1
WSW
13
1.8
WSW
8
1.7
WSW
9
1.7
WSW
12
1.6
WSW
12
1.5
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
18
Energy kJ
61
96
256
273
265
176
778
754
471
361
387
823
1613
4
1467
414
408
767
706
681
422
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WSW
18
0.5
W
17
0.5
W
12
0.2
W
5
0.1
N
13
0.4
WSW
19
0.3
WSW
6
0.6
WSW
6
0.9
WSW
6
0.6
WSW
6
0.1
W
20
0.1
N
15
0.1
N
14
0.1
N
13
0.7
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
12
0.4
WSW
22
0.7
W
20
0.7
W
19
0.7
WSW
13
Energy kJ
104
149
71
2
3
123
6
27
75
31
8
4
4
3
160
152
156
377
365
168
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
W
7
0.2
WSW
6
0.2
WNW
5
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
13
0.1
W
21
0.1
W
20
0.2
W
18
0.2
WSW
16
0.1
N
12
0.1
N
12
0.1
N
12
0.1
N
11
Energy kJ
8
3
3
4
3
9
8
24
25
3
3
3
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
N
3
1.1
W
6
2.2
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
9
Energy kJ
3
97
1833
975
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
2
1
2
3
3
3
2
2
3
4
1
4
3
2
3
4
4
2
Distance (km)
0
52
0
0
91
0
0
91
0
0
91
0
0
166
0
0
166
0
0
0
180
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
1
2
3
3
3
3
2
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
4
6
5
4
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
5
5
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
6
7
9
5
5
6
6
8
8
5
5
  • 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

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for West Coast South Island

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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.


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 16 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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