- Forecast
- Maps
- Live
- Weather State
- Spot Information
Papatowai Surf Forecast
/ Catlins (9 surf breaks) /
Papatowai surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand
12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Wednesday 30 Apr 2025 NZST
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Papatowai this week:
The surf forecast for Papatowai over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 01) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.4m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Papatowai in the next 12 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 03) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Thursday (May 08) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 1st May) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 3rd May) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 3rd May) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papatowai over the next 12 days.
Wed 30 | Thursday 01 | Friday 02 | Saturday 03 | Sunday 04 | Monday 05 | Tuesday 06 | Wednesday 07 | Thursday 08 | Friday 09 | Saturday 10 | Sunday 11 | Mon 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Rating (10 max) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wave Height (m) & direction (?) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period(s) (?) | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Wave (?)Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy (?) | 736 | 1077 | 1483 | 1752 | 1945 | 1559 | 1077 | 1693 | 3883 | 5656 | 5212 | 3633 | 2820 | 892 | 1645 | 1857 | 2747 | 1324 | 746 | 2878 | 2374 | 2002 | 813 | 1410 | 4032 | 5497 | 3094 | 3612 | 2985 | 1120 | 1963 | 7105 | 3713 | 3026 | 1665 | 1743 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy | cross- on | cross- on | cross | cross | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross- off | cross- off | off | cross- off | cross- off | off | cross | off | glass | cross- off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross- off | off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- off | off | glass | on | cross- on | off |
High Tide / height (m) | 4:58AM 1.97 | 5:33PM 2.05 | 5:58AM 1.88 | 6:36PM 1.96 | 7:01AM 1.80 | 7:41PM 1.87 | 8:08AM 1.74 | 8:47PM 1.81 | 9:14AM 1.71 | 9:49PM 1.77 | 10:14AM 1.70 | 10:43PM 1.75 | 11:06AM 1.70 | 11:31PM 1.74 | 11:52AM 1.72 | 12:13AM 1.74 | 12:33PM 1.74 | 12:51AM 1.74 | 1:11PM 1.77 | 1:28AM 1.75 | 1:49PM 1.79 | 2:05AM 1.75 | ||||||||||||||
Low Tide / height (m) | 10:54PM 0.15 | 11:16AM 0.10 | 11:56PM 0.24 | 12:19PM 0.19 | 1:00AM 0.32 | 1:24PM 0.26 | 2:04AM 0.37 | 2:27PM 0.31 | 3:04AM 0.39 | 3:27PM 0.34 | 4:00AM 0.39 | 4:21PM 0.35 | 4:50AM 0.38 | 5:09PM 0.35 | 5:34AM 0.36 | 5:53PM 0.35 | 6:14AM 0.35 | 6:33PM 0.35 | 6:52AM 0.34 | 7:12PM 0.35 | 7:29AM 0.33 | 7:52PM 0.36 | 8:07AM 0.34 | |||||||||||||
Wed 30 | Thursday 01 | Friday 02 | Saturday 03 | Sunday 04 | Monday 05 | Tuesday 06 | Wednesday 07 | Thursday 08 | Friday 09 | Saturday 10 | Sunday 11 | Mon 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sunrise | - | - | 7:39 | - | - | 7:39 | - | - | 7:41 | - | - | 7:43 | - | - | 7:43 | - | - | 7:46 | - | - | 7:47 | - | - | 7:48 | - | - | 7:48 | - | - | 7:50 | - | - | 7:52 | - | - | 7:52 |
| Sunset | 5:38 | - | - | 5:37 | - | - | 5:36 | - | - | 5:35 | - | - | 5:32 | - | - | 5:31 | - | - | 5:30 | - | - | 5:29 | - | - | 5:28 | - | - | 5:25 | - | - | 5:24 | - | - | 5:23 | - | - |
 |  | | | |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | |
Rain (mm) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 20 | 2 | - | - | - |
| Temp. °C | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Feels °C (?) | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Short Range Forecast: Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 6-9 Weather Summary Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Long Range Forecast: Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
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 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 12 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.
Nearest