Surf Forecasts:
Papatowai surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 25ft (7.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 22,473 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Papatowai this week:
The surf forecast for Papatowai over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Papatowai in the next 16 days are 7.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 25ft (7.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papatowai over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NW on Fri night, strong winds from the W by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 5°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Mon afternoon, light winds from the NW by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 9 | SW 12 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 329 | 273 | 1286 | 2386 | 6122 | 14261 | 14415 | 14186 | 11775 | 12850 | 14696 | 10492 | 6100 | 2588 | 3061 | 2065 | 1754 | 2717 | 1956 | 3557 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross |
High Tide | 2:49AM1.85m | 3:12PM1.89m | 3:26AM1.87m | 3:50PM1.88m | 4:06AM1.87m | 4:30PM1.85m | 4:50AM1.85m | 5:14PM1.80m | 5:38AM1.82m | 6:03PM1.74m | 6:33AM1.79m | 7:00PM1.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:43PM0.26m | 8:59AM0.17m | 9:21PM0.24m | 9:39AM0.18m | 10:00PM0.25m | 10:21AM0.22m | 10:43PM0.28m | 11:08AM0.28m | 11:31PM0.32m | 12:01PM0.35m | 00:25AM0.36m | 1:02PM0.41m | 1:27AM0.39m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — |
mm | 1 | 2 | — | — | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 10 |
Feels °C | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | -1 | -3 | -4 | -1 | 0 | -5 | -1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | SW 7 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | S 11 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 329 | 169 | 475 | 673 | 20 | 16 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | 1613 | 2588 | 3061 | 2065 | 1754 | 2717 | 1956 | 3557 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | ENE 10 | SW 13 | NE 9 | ESE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 13 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 278 | 235 | 178 | 37 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2534 | 739 | 476 | 300 | 149 | 1060 | 94 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SW 12 | NE 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 12 | SE 12 | S 9 | S 8 |
| kJ | 204 | 273 | 83 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 22 | 80 | 22 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | WNW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | W 7 | WSW 6 | — | — | NE 5 |
| kJ | 17 | 141 | 1286 | 2386 | 6122 | 14261 | 14415 | 14186 | 11775 | 12850 | 14696 | 10492 | 6100 | 76 | 9 | 384 | 146 | — | — | 17 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 11 | 78 | 21 | 0 | 397 | 583 | 426 | 89 | 275 | 606 | 275 | 858 | 11 | 78 | 11 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Catlins | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Papatowai 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.
Information about the Papatowai Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Papatowai provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Papatowai can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Papatowai 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 (Papatowai) 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 Papatowai 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.
Papatowai is 88 km (55 miles) from the city of Invercargill. If you plan a holiday in Catlins, look for hotels and other accommodation in Invercargill. Invercargill has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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