Surf Forecasts:
Papatowai surf forecast from 12 Nov 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 19 Nov, 10AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 19 Nov, 10AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 5,948 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 12 Nov, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s 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 Thursday (Nov 12) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 12s 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 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Nov 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Monday (Nov 16) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 12th Nov) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Thu 19th Nov) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 19th Nov) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papatowai over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu morning, calm by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the W by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 12 | Friday 13 | Saturday 14 | Sunday 15 | Monday 16 | Tuesday 17 | Wednesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 14 | WSW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1289 | 1497 | 4082 | 4341 | 4595 | 2596 | 1369 | 995 | 483 | 309 | 338 | 1407 | 1459 | 3446 | 1621 | 2574 | 2699 | 2589 | 3669 | 4597 | 5549 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 5:25PM1.70m | 5:52AM1.77m | 6:09PM1.64m | 6:38AM1.71m | 6:56PM1.58m | 7:27AM1.65m | 7:46PM1.53m | 8:17AM1.60m | 8:38PM1.50m | 9:09AM1.58m | 9:30PM1.50m | 10:00AM1.58m | 10:21PM1.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:20AM0.44m | 11:35PM0.41m | 12:08PM0.50m | 00:23AM0.47m | 12:59PM0.54m | 1:14AM0.51m | 1:51PM0.57m | 2:07AM0.54m | 2:43PM0.58m | 2:59AM0.54m | 3:34PM0.56m | 3:50AM0.51m | 4:21PM0.52m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:58 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | ENE 9 | SW 13 | ENE 9 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NE 7 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 1289 | 852 | 42 | 3399 | 31 | 2596 | 1369 | 995 | 483 | 309 | 338 | 1407 | 1459 | 13 | 893 | 2574 | 2699 | 2589 | 21 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 134 | 90 | — | 29 | 52 | 33 | 39 | 38 | 154 | 57 | 36 | 25 | 27 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 20 | SSW 20 | ENE 10 | S 9 | SSW 16 | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 37 | 60 | 83 | 234 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | NW 5 | NE 5 | — | — | NW 4 | SW 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | SW 14 | SW 11 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | — | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 181 | 1497 | 4082 | 4341 | 4595 | 32 | 6 | — | — | 7 | 5 | 20 | 331 | 3446 | 1621 | 35 | 28 | — | 3669 | 4597 | 5549 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 0 | 11 | 78 | 78 | 130 | 167 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Catlins | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
Never miss your swells again.
Built by surfers, trusted by millions for over 20 years. The Wavefinder in our app makes it even easier to find where the best waves are breaking. Follow the yellow stars along your coast and get there first.
Scan the QR code to open the Surf‑Forecast app
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