Papatowai surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Saturday 14 Mar 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Papatowai surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Papatowai sea temperature is
14.2° C
(Which is 1.9°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

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 (Mar 15) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 5.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Papatowai in the next 16 days are 5.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Mar 15) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Mar 18) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Sun 15th Mar)16ft (5.0m) 16s
Best Surf 1PM (Sun 15th Mar)16ft (5.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 4PM (Sun 15th Mar)16ft (5.0m) 16s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat night, light winds from the NW by Mon night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
6
8
9
9
6
5
4
3
2
1
2
3
3
3
2
3
4
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.5
WSW
3
WSW
4
SW
5
SW
5
SW
4
SW
3.5
SW
3.5
SW
2.5
SW
2.1
SW
1.6
SW
1.3
SW
1.1
SW
1
SW
1.3
SW
1.4
SW
1.3
SW
1.3
SW
1.9
SW
1.9
SW
1.9
SW
Period(s) (?)71013151616151414131313131212121212131213
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)7581966576797451272682246050406726791457878591357295457528427537117310831280
Wind
(km/h)
25
WNW
30
W
35
W
25
W
25
W
15
NW
25
W
20
W
10
WSW
5
N
15
E
15
NNE
10
N
20
WSW
10
SW
0
E
10
SSE
5
W
5
E
15
E
20
ENE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
offoffoffoffcross-
off
offoffoffcrossoncross-
on
crossoffcross-
off
glasscrossglassglassoncross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:18PM
1.56
12:46AM
1.69
1:01PM
1.64
1:26AM
1.77
1:39PM
1.73
2:04AM
1.85
2:18PM
1.82
2:42AM
1.92
2:57PM
1.91
3:21AM
1.97
3:37PM
1.98
4:02AM
1.99
4:21PM
2.02
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:20PM
0.47
6:49AM
0.48
7:03PM
0.37
7:30AM
0.38
7:44PM
0.26
8:09AM
0.28
8:25PM
0.16
8:48AM
0.20
9:06PM
0.09
9:28AM
0.14
9:49PM
0.06
10:11AM
0.11
10:35PM
0.07
Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Sunrise7:33--7:35--7:37--7:37--7:39--7:41--7:41--
Sunset-8:07--8:05--8:02--8:00--7:59--7:58--7:55-
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
---2--------1--------
Temp. °C141414131514151513161613151511151411131311
Feels °C (?)887810910111114131113128131291098
  • 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

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Papatowai:

join our community of surf reporters

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 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest