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Surf Forecasts:

Motunau Beach surfForecast / Canterbury / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 pm Sunday 18 Jan 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Motunau Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Motunau Beach sea temperature is
17.1° C
 (Which is 2.2°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Motunau Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Motunau Beach over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jan 18) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Motunau Beach in the next 12 days are 2.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jan 23) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jan 21) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sun 18th Jan)2.5ft (0.7m) 8s
Best Surf10PM (Sun 25th Jan)5.5ft (1.7m) 14s
Most Powerful 1PM (Fri 23rd Jan)8ft (2.4m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Motunau Beach over the next 12 days.

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

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the ENE by Wed morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 40mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the NW by Sat morning).

Sun
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
3
3
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.8
ESE
0.7
ESE
0.6
ESE
0.7
E
0.6
E
0.4
SE
0.7
E
0.7
ENE
0.9
ENE
0.4
SE
1.8
ENE
2
ENE
2.1
ENE
1.8
E
2.4
E
2.2
E
1.5
E
1.6
E
0.9
SSE
0.9
SSE
1.2
SSE
Period(s) (?)88777788813788912121111161515
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)8651434832146368924534445254749816931389566588382372592
Wind
(km/h)
20
SE
5
NNW
5
ENE
20
E
10
NNE
10
E
20
E
15
NE
25
NE
35
ENE
35
NE
35
NE
30
E
30
SE
25
WSW
45
SW
30
SW
20
WSW
20
NNW
5
ENE
10
N
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crossglasscross-
off		cross-
off		offcross-
off		cross-
off		offcross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		ononcross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
5:53AM
1.73
6:09PM
1.57
6:35AM
1.73
6:52PM
1.57
7:18AM
1.73
7:35PM
1.57
8:01AM
1.72
8:20PM
1.58
8:45AM
1.71
9:08PM
1.59
9:32AM
1.69
9:58PM
1.61
10:22AM
1.67
Low Tide
/ height (m)
11:34PM
0.29
12:10PM
0.34
12:18AM
0.27
12:54PM
0.32
1:02AM
0.25
1:38PM
0.29
1:46AM
0.25
2:22PM
0.28
2:33AM
0.25
3:07PM
0.26
3:21AM
0.25
3:53PM
0.25
4:13AM
0.26
Sun
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunrise--6:09--6:11--6:13--6:13--6:15--6:16--6:18
Sunset9:05--9:04--9:04--9:02--9:01--9:00--9:00--
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
Rain (mm)
------------102811-----
Temp. °C141315141215151217171516151517141213141315
Feels °C (?)1011111091111911119101010106499912
  • 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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Latest Updates

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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Motunau Beach 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 Motunau Beach at:
surf-forecast.com

Information about the Motunau Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Motunau Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Motunau Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Motunau Beach 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 (Motunau Beach) 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 Motunau Beach 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 Canterbury? If you are looking for accommodation near Motunau Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Canterbury, consider staying in Christchurch which is 64 km (40 miles) away.

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