Surf Forecasts:
Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 18s period, SSW swell with 14,510 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach in the next 16 days are 5.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.0m 17s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Fri morning, min 5°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the N by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 11°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sat afternoon, gales from the WSW by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 215 | 309 | 680 | 691 | 1108 | 740 | 1671 | 1604 | 2005 | 1415 | 1177 | 71 | 47 | 14510 | 5879 | 2228 | 1075 | 1077 | 1911 | 1132 | 63 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:24PM1.61m | 6:52AM1.66m | 7:21PM1.54m | 7:47AM1.60m | 8:19PM1.50m | 8:42AM1.58m | 9:15PM1.50m | 9:35AM1.59m | 10:06PM1.53m | 10:24AM1.62m | 10:52PM1.59m | 11:09AM1.67m | 11:34PM1.67m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:40PM0.31m | 00:58AM0.34m | 1:27PM0.37m | 1:48AM0.38m | 2:18PM0.41m | 2:39AM0.40m | 3:13PM0.43m | 3:31AM0.40m | 4:09PM0.41m | 4:22AM0.39m | 5:00PM0.37m | 5:11AM0.36m | 5:46PM0.33m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | |  | | |  | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:32 | — |
mm | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 7 |
Feels °C | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 7 | -5 | -4 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 11 |
| kJ | 215 | 309 | 680 | 691 | 1108 | 740 | 1671 | 1604 | 2005 | 1415 | 1177 | 71 | 47 | 23 | 5879 | 2228 | 1075 | 1077 | 1911 | 1132 | 63 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 9 | ENE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ENE 12 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | — |
| kJ | 16 | 20 | 5 | 27 | 47 | 115 | 138 | 164 | 140 | 125 | 36 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 22 | 21 | 46 | 49 | 27 | 51 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 15 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 12 | ESE 9 | NE 4 | NE 4 | SSW 18 | ESE 11 | NE 12 | — | — | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ESE 10 | NNE 5 | E 11 | NNE 4 | — |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 61 | 84 | 5 | — | — | 11 | 23 | 10 | 2 | 22 | 6 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | SW 9 | N 4 | NNE 4 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | — | NNE 4 | SW 13 | — | SW 8 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 23 | 52 | — | — | — | 304 | 6 | 20 | — | 31 | 57 | 3171 | 9756 | 14510 | 8586 | — | 32 | 1975 | — | 176 | 3970 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 226 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 166 | 163 | 559 | 33 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 300 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Otago | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Otago Peninsula - Papanui 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 (Otago Peninsula - Papanui 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 Otago Peninsula - Papanui 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.
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