Little Wanganui Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.39° S 172.06° E

Issued: 11 pm 18 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Little Wanganui sea temperature is
14.7° C

Slightly warmer than usual

Little Wanganui surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Little Wanganui surf forecast from 18 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 21 Jun, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, WNW swell with onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 25 Jun, 9PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, W swell with 7,921 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 19 Jun, 9AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period with WSW swell.

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 Friday (Jun 19) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Little Wanganui in the next 16 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jun 25) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Fri 19th Jun)5ft (1.6m) 13s
Best Surf 3AM (Sun 21st Jun)11ft (3.5m) 10s
Most Powerful 9PM (Thu 25th Jun)15ft (4.5m) 14s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 44mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat night, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sat night, calm by Sun afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun night, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thu
25
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
2
0
1
0
3
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
3
3
2
1
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
13
1.5
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
13
0.6
WSW
12
1.8
W
8
3
WNW
10
2.5
WNW
10
2.1
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
9
1.4
WNW
9
0.8
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
0.9
WSW
14
1.7
N
8
2.1
W
7
0.9
WSW
15
1
WSW
14
1.7
W
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
874
958
713
431
115
401
2001
1325
832
465
287
239
347
352
389
316
405
461
309
357
1241
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
5
ESE
5
W
10
ENE
20
NNW
20
NNW
30
NNW
10
WSW
5
W
5
SSW
5
ENE
0
W
5
ESE
5
E
5
SSE
15
ESE
15
ESE
10
ESE
5
ESE
15
SW
0
ESE
Wind State
off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
1:13AM3.19m
1:41PM2.95m
2:05AM3.06m
2:35PM2.81m
2:59AM2.90m
3:31PM2.68m
3:55AM2.75m
4:28PM2.56m
4:52AM2.61m
5:27PM2.50m
5:50AM2.52m
6:24PM2.47m
6:47AM2.48m
Low Tide
7:31AM0.12m
7:51PM0.24m
8:25AM0.25m
8:44PM0.38m
9:19AM0.39m
9:39PM0.53m
10:14AM0.52m
10:36PM0.65m
11:10AM0.63m
11:35PM0.74m
12:06PM0.70m
00:33AM0.79m
1:01PM0.73m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:56
7:56
7:58
7:58
7:58
7:58
7:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:08
5:08
5:08
 mm
1
2
10
26
2
3
4
5
2
2
Temp °C
10
12
12
14
15
15
16
14
14
12
12
12
10
12
12
11
12
12
12
12
12
Feels °C
8
11
11
13
13
13
11
14
14
12
11
11
9
11
10
7
9
10
10
9
12
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
13
1.5
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
13
0.6
WSW
12
1.8
W
8
0.5
W
18
2.5
WNW
10
2.1
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
9
1.4
WNW
9
1
WNW
9
1
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
1
N
7
1.7
N
8
1.5
NNW
8
1
WSW
7
1
WSW
14
1.7
W
15
Energy kJ
874
958
713
431
115
401
158
1325
832
465
287
157
347
352
389
108
405
293
88
357
1241
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
WSW
7
0.1
N
12
0.1
W
24
0.2
W
21
0.3
WSW
20
0.4
WSW
19
0.6
WSW
12
0.6
WSW
16
0.7
WSW
15
0.8
WSW
14
0.8
WSW
14
0.8
WNW
8
0.6
WNW
8
0.5
NW
8
0.9
WSW
14
0.8
WSW
14
0.7
WSW
14
0.9
WNW
7
1
W
7
0.4
NNW
7
Energy kJ
160
3
11
36
75
123
90
196
199
236
239
86
43
28
316
220
161
68
85
16
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
12
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
10
0.1
N
10
0.1
N
9
0.5
WSW
16
0.7
WSW
11
0.5
WSW
10
0.8
WSW
7
0.2
WNW
7
0.1
W
18
0.9
WSW
15
0.7
W
18
Energy kJ
3
3
2
2
2
153
105
54
62
5
7
309
308
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
W
6
3
WNW
10
2.1
W
7
1.5
WSW
6
Energy kJ
104
2001
461
160
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
2
1
1
1
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
1
4
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
100
172
100
54
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
52
0
0
0
166
0
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
2
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
9
4
5
3
4
4
3
4
4
4
7
6
5
4
4
2
3
3
4
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
5
6
5
7
5
5
4
9
4
7
6
7
5
5
5
5
6
7
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)
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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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