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Papatowai Surf Forecast
/ Catlins (9 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Papatowai surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Wednesday 25 Mar 2026 NZDTForecast 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
14.6° C
(Which is 2.6°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 (Mar 27) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Papatowai in the next 16 days are 6.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Mar 31) 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 1.3m 5s period and expected on Monday (Mar 30) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Fri 27th Mar) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Fri 27th Mar) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Tue 31st Mar) | 20ft (6.0m) 13s |
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 8mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Thu night, calm by Fri afternoon). | Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 25 | Thursday 26 | Friday 27 | Saturday 28 | Sunday 29 | Monday 30 | Tuesday 31 | |||||||||||||||
| AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Rating (10 max) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| Wave Height (m) & direction (?) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Period(s) (?) | 12 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Wave (?)Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ (?) | 799 | 897 | 623 | 414 | 1298 | 2207 | 3042 | 2573 | 2237 | 1234 | 726 | 623 | 431 | 380 | 2856 | 3329 | 2530 | 3518 | 11770 | 9966 | 8251 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy | on | on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | off | off | cross- off | cross- off | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | off | off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide / height (m) | 9:07PM 1.83 | 9:37AM 1.71 | 10:21PM 1.82 | 10:49AM 1.74 | 11:30PM 1.86 | 11:54AM 1.79 | 12:29AM 1.90 | 12:50PM 1.85 | 1:20AM 1.94 | 1:39PM 1.91 | 2:06AM 1.96 | 2:24PM 1.94 | 2:48AM 1.96 | ||||||||
Low Tide / height (m) | 2:51PM 0.31 | 3:34AM 0.40 | 4:00PM 0.31 | 4:41AM 0.38 | 5:06PM 0.28 | 5:43AM 0.33 | 6:05PM 0.22 | 6:38AM 0.27 | 6:58PM 0.17 | 7:27AM 0.21 | 7:47PM 0.13 | 8:11AM 0.17 | 8:31PM 0.12 | ||||||||
Wednesday 25 | Thursday 26 | Friday 27 | Saturday 28 | Sunday 29 | Monday 30 | Tuesday 31 | |||||||||||||||
| Sunrise | 7:48 | - | - | 7:50 | - | - | 7:52 | - | - | 7:52 | - | - | 7:54 | - | - | 7:56 | - | - | 7:56 | - | - |
| Sunset | - | 7:45 | - | - | 7:44 | - | - | 7:42 | - | - | 7:39 | - | - | 7:37 | - | - | 7:36 | - | - | 7:34 | - |
 | |  |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Rain (mm) | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | - | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | - | - |
| Temp. °C | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| Feels °C (?) | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
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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