Surf Forecasts:
Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach surf forecast from 18 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 20 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with 13,691 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 19 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 Saturday (Sep 19) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach in the next 16 days are 5.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.5m 16s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 19th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Otago Peninsula - Papanui Beach over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, gales from the WSW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue morning, min 4°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon night, light winds from the SSW by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | Thursday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2593 | 1704 | 1601 | 50 | 24 | 12089 | 4895 | 1269 | 629 | 911 | 1241 | 1067 | 3601 | 1161 | 2734 | 2445 | 8 | 8 | 1093 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 8:42AM1.58m | 9:15PM1.50m | 9:35AM1.59m | 10:06PM1.53m | 10:24AM1.62m | 10:52PM1.59m | 11:09AM1.67m | 11:34PM1.67m | 11:50AM1.73m | 00:13AM1.75m | 12:31PM1.79m | 00:51AM1.84m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:39AM0.40m | 3:13PM0.43m | 3:31AM0.40m | 4:09PM0.41m | 4:22AM0.39m | 5:00PM0.37m | 5:11AM0.36m | 5:46PM0.33m | 5:59AM0.33m | 6:28PM0.28m | 6:45AM0.29m | 7:09PM0.25m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:35 | — |
mm | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 3 | 11 | 9 | -5 | -4 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 5 | -1 | -2 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 16 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | ESE 12 | SSW 15 | ESE 11 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | E 10 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 2593 | 1704 | 1601 | 50 | 24 | 23 | 4895 | 1269 | 629 | 911 | 1241 | 1067 | 14 | 1161 | 11 | 2445 | 1824 | 8 | 1093 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | ESE 11 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | S 10 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | SE 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 16 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 142 | 94 | 25 | 9 | — | — | 11 | 489 | 367 | 53 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 12 | ESE 11 | — | — | — | — | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | NE 6 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | — | SE 12 | — | SE 11 | — | — | E 15 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 49 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 14 | — | 5 | — | 5 | — | — | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NE 5 | — | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | SW 8 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 8 | SSW 15 | — | SW 8 | SW 13 | — |
| kJ | 52 | 34 | — | 4586 | 14577 | 12089 | — | 48 | 53 | 439 | 503 | 471 | 3601 | 666 | 2734 | — | 470 | 1804 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 4 | 0 | 295 | 390 | 1018 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 49 | 35 | 35 | 39 | 49 | 49 | 35 | 7 | 32 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Otago | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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