Papatea Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.66° S 177.85° E

Papatea Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 15 Oct 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Papatea Bay sea temperature is
16.4°C
1.0° 

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


Papatea Bay surf forecast from 15 Oct 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 16 Oct, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 16 Oct, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NW swell with 477 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 16 Oct, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period with NNW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Papatea Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Papatea Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Oct 16) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Papatea Bay in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Oct 16) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Friday (Oct 16) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Fri 16th Oct)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s
Best Surf10AM (Fri 16th Oct)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s
Most Powerful 4AM (Fri 16th Oct)7ft (2.1m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papatea Bay over the next 16 days.


Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Thu afternoon, calm by Sun morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
NNW
7
2.2
NW
8
1.7
NNW
8
1.7
NNW
8
0.9
NNW
8
0.8
SW
4
0.2
ENE
12
0.2
ENE
12
0.2
N
16
0.2
NNW
16
0.2
NNW
15
0.3
NNW
15
0.3
NNW
14
0.3
NE
10
0.3
NE
10
0.3
NE
10
0.3
NE
10
0.3
NE
10
0.9
W
5
0.3
NE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
621
559
337
335
106
23
14
13
21
25
21
42
41
18
17
17
16
15
36
23
Wind (km/h)
35
NNW
20
W
5
SSW
20
S
15
SSW
15
SSW
15
SSW
10
S
0
SSW
10
N
5
SSW
5
WNW
10
WNW
5
SSW
5
N
5
WNW
10
SW
5
WSW
10
N
10
SSW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
10:50PM1.60m
11:19AM1.65m
11:33PM1.54m
12:03PM1.59m
00:17AM1.48m
12:49PM1.53m
1:05AM1.42m
1:39PM1.49m
1:57AM1.37m
2:31PM1.47m
2:52AM1.36m
3:23PM1.47m
3:49AM1.37m
Low Tide
5:03AM0.25m
5:31PM0.36m
5:45AM0.31m
6:16PM0.41m
6:30AM0.36m
7:03PM0.46m
7:17AM0.41m
7:53PM0.50m
8:06AM0.45m
8:46PM0.50m
8:59AM0.46m
9:40PM0.48m
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
—
—
6:22
—
—
6:22
—
—
6:20
—
—
6:18
—
—
6:18
—
—
6:16
—
—
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:23
—
—
7:24
—
—
7:25
—
—
7:27
—
—
7:28
—
—
7:29
—
—
7:30
—
 mm
12
3
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Temp °C
16
12
13
12
9
11
12
11
15
15
11
16
16
13
18
17
12
17
18
13
Feels °C
10
7
11
7
5
8
8
8
12
12
10
14
14
12
16
16
12
16
17
11
  • 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
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Information about the Papatea Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Papatea Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Papatea Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Papatea Bay 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 (Papatea Bay) 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 Papatea Bay 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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