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Surf Forecasts:

Papatowai surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Saturday 31 Jan 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
13.9° C
 (Which is 1.3°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 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jan 31) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Papatowai in the next 12 days are 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jan 31) at 7PM. 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 Monday (Feb 02) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sat 31st Jan)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Best Surf10AM (Sat 31st Jan)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 7PM (Sat 31st Jan)10ft (3.0m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papatowai over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
31
Sunday
01
Monday
02
Tuesday
03
Wednesday
04
Thursday
05
Friday
06
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
5
3
4
2
1
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
0
1
4
2
3
3
2
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
3.5
WSW
3
WSW
3
SW
1.9
SW
1.5
SW
1.3
SW
1.1
SW
1.2
SW
1.1
SW
2.1
SW
1.9
SW
1.3
SW
1.2
SW
1.1
SW
1.2
SW
1.3
SSW
2.1
SW
1.7
SW
1.4
SW
1.4
SW
1.1
SW
Period(s) (?)121312111212121212121111131212141312131313
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)30002947231091459349433838329311808063614593613767421474882673653398
Wind
(km/h)
15
W
25
WSW
25
W
10
NE
10
NE
10
NNE
10
WNW
15
SSW
15
S
15
SSE
15
S
5
NNW
0
SSW
10
SSE
10
NNE
0
SSE
15
E
5
NNW
20
W
25
SW
10
WNW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offoffoffcross-
on		cross-
on		crossoffcross-
off		cross-
off		crosscrossglassglasscross-
on		cross-
on		glassoncross-
off		offcross-
off		cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
2:08PM
1.96
2:41AM
2.11
2:59PM
2.02
3:30AM
2.14
3:48PM
2.05
4:17AM
2.13
4:35PM
2.04
5:03AM
2.07
5:21PM
1.99
5:47AM
1.98
6:06PM
1.91
6:32AM
1.88
6:53PM
1.81
Low Tide
/ height (m)
8:18PM
0.05
8:51AM
0.14
9:10PM
-0.01
9:40AM
0.10
10:00PM
-0.02
10:28AM
0.10
10:48PM
0.01
11:14AM
0.12
11:35PM
0.08
12:01PM
0.18
12:22AM
0.18
12:47PM
0.27
1:10AM
0.30
Saturday
31
Sunday
01
Monday
02
Tuesday
03
Wednesday
04
Thursday
05
Friday
06
Sunrise6:31--6:31--6:33--6:35--6:37--6:39--6:39--
Sunset-9:17--9:16--9:15--9:14--9:13--9:12--9:09-
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
Rain (mm)
-----1131---------2--
Temp. °C17181516171618111012129141411181817131511
Feels °C (?)12121013141516878881211916161310108
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

View detailed surf forecast for Papatowai at:
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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.

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