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Papatowai Surf Forecast
/ Catlins (9 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Papatowai surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Thursday 14 May 2026 NZSTForecast 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
13.1° C
(Which is 2.7°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 Friday (May 15) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Papatowai in the next 16 days are 2.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 16) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (May 20) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 15th May) | 8ft (2.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 15th May) | 8ft (2.4m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 16th May) | 7ft (2.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papatowai over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Thu night, min 6°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 15 | Saturday 16 | Sunday 17 | Monday 18 | Tuesday 19 | Wednesday 20 | Thu 21 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | |
2146 | 1909 | 1384 | 1022 | 1111 | 3032 | 2032 | 1171 | 799 | 503 | 330 | 793 | 581 | 746 | 503 | 384 | 299 | 152 | 91 | 338 | 593 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | |
High Tide | 00:32AM1.89m | 12:57PM2.00m | 1:21AM1.96m | 1:49PM2.10m | 2:12AM2.01m | 2:43PM2.16m | 3:05AM2.02m | 3:38PM2.17m | 4:00AM2.01m | 4:34PM2.14m | 4:57AM1.98m | 5:33PM2.08m | 5:56AM1.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:41AM0.14m | 7:10PM0.11m | 7:30AM0.07m | 8:03PM0.09m | 8:22AM0.03m | 8:58PM0.09m | 9:17AM0.01m | 9:55PM0.12m | 10:15AM0.03m | 10:54PM0.16m | 11:16AM0.07m | 11:55PM0.20m | 12:19PM0.12m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:03 | — |
 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:12 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 16 |
6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 10 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
 kJ | 2146 | 1909 | 1384 | 1022 | 918 | 3032 | 2032 | 1171 | 799 | 503 | 330 | 793 | 581 | 746 | 503 | 384 | 299 | 152 | 91 | 338 | 593 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | ENE 10 | ENE 4 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | SSW 18 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 3 | ENE 10 | WSW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 10 | 7 | 9 | 404 | 1111 | 10 | 6 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 204 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 22 | 63 | 174 | 147 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | — | S 25 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — | ENE 12 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 10 | — | — | S 21 | S 21 | SSW 20 | ENE 4 | SSW 19 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 19 | — | 12 | 9 | 9 | — | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 21 | — | — | 9 | 9 | 37 | 1 | 69 | 7 | 17 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | WNW 4 | NNW 4 | WSW 6 | NE 4 | NW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | 9 | 48 | 1 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Catlins | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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