Surf Forecasts:
Papatowai surf forecast from 21 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 22 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 27 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 13,024 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 22 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period with WSW 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 Tuesday (Sep 22) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 4.0m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s is also forecast. 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 6.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 27) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 24) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Tue 22nd Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Tue 22nd Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sun 27th Sep) | 20ft (6.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papatowai over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 10°C on Tue morning, min 3°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat morning, min 5°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the SW by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | Thursday 24 | Friday 25 | Saturday 26 | Sunday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | ESE 13 | WSW 7 | SW 8 | SW 12 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3135 | 8898 | 10034 | 5846 | 8718 | 7523 | 5394 | 3614 | 4135 | 2310 | 1457 | 1211 | 782 | 349 | 181 | 637 | 1972 | 9226 | 11490 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:04PM1.57m | 11:31AM1.68m | 11:46PM1.64m | 12:11PM1.74m | 00:24AM1.71m | 12:48PM1.81m | 1:01AM1.79m | 1:24PM1.86m | 1:38AM1.86m | 2:01PM1.90m | 2:17AM1.92m | 2:39PM1.92m | 3:58AM1.96m | ||||||
Low Tide | 5:05AM0.47m | 5:33PM0.48m | 5:48AM0.38m | 6:13PM0.39m | 6:28AM0.29m | 6:51PM0.31m | 7:07AM0.21m | 7:28PM0.25m | 7:46AM0.16m | 8:07PM0.20m | 8:27AM0.13m | 8:47PM0.17m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:38 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 7:44 | — |
mm | 6 | — | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 12 | 3 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
Feels °C | 1 | 3 | -1 | -1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 4 | -4 | -4 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | E 12 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 18 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 |
| kJ | 3135 | 7054 | 11 | 5846 | 8718 | 7523 | 5394 | 3614 | 4135 | 2310 | 1457 | 1211 | 782 | 349 | 180 | 486 | 117 | 47 | 102 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 13 | ESE 13 | — | — | E 11 | — | S 10 | — | — | E 11 | ESE 15 | ESE 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SSW 21 | ESE 15 | — |
| kJ | 58 | 16 | — | — | 20 | — | 122 | — | — | 9 | 23 | 35 | 85 | 141 | 181 | 123 | 90 | 84 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 16 | E 10 | ESE 16 | ESE 12 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | — | — |
| kJ | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 25 | 50 | 80 | 38 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 9 | — | — | — | WNW 5 | NW 5 | — | — | — | NE 4 | NW 4 | W 5 | WSW 7 | SW 8 | SW 12 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 487 | 8898 | 10034 | 1218 | — | — | — | 86 | 39 | — | — | — | 15 | 6 | 87 | 637 | 1972 | 9226 | 11490 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 21 | 189 | 29 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 78 | 129 | 480 | 724 | 78 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Catlins | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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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