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Papatowai Surf Forecast
/ Catlins (9 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Papatowai surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand
12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Tuesday 26 Aug 2025 NZST
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 Tuesday (Aug 26) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Papatowai in the next 12 days are 4.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 01) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 02) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Tue 26th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 1st Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papatowai over the next 12 days.
Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 6°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 3°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Fri night, strong winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 26 | Wednesday 27 | Thursday 28 | Friday 29 | Saturday 30 | Sunday 31 | Monday 01 | |||||||||||||||
| 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) (?) | 19 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Wave (?)Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy (?) | 2144 | 2667 | 2107 | 1062 | 611 | 311 | 289 | 273 | 374 | 231 | 908 | 4081 | 2950 | 2259 | 4018 | 2542 | 3398 | 5154 | 5395 | 4355 | 3313 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy | cross- off | glass | cross- off | cross | cross | cross | cross | glass | cross- off | off | off | cross- off | cross | cross- on | cross- off | cross- off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide / height (m) | 4:34PM 1.85 | 4:52AM 1.80 | 5:14PM 1.76 | 5:35AM 1.72 | 5:57PM 1.66 | 6:21AM 1.64 | 6:43PM 1.57 | 7:12AM 1.57 | 7:37PM 1.50 | 8:12AM 1.53 | 8:39PM 1.47 | 9:18AM 1.53 | 9:43PM 1.47 | ||||||||
Low Tide / height (m) | 10:22AM 0.22 | 10:44PM 0.30 | 11:05AM 0.31 | 11:27PM 0.38 | 11:51AM 0.42 | 12:13AM 0.46 | 12:41PM 0.52 | 1:04AM 0.54 | 1:37PM 0.61 | 2:00AM 0.60 | 2:36PM 0.65 | 2:59AM 0.62 | 3:36PM 0.65 | ||||||||
Tuesday 26 | Wednesday 27 | Thursday 28 | Friday 29 | Saturday 30 | Sunday 31 | Monday 01 | |||||||||||||||
| Sunrise | 7:24 | - | - | 7:22 | - | - | 7:20 | - | - | 7:18 | - | - | 7:16 | - | - | 7:15 | - | - | 7:13 | - | - |
| Sunset | - | 6:04 | - | - | 6:05 | - | - | 6:06 | - | - | 6:07 | - | - | 6:08 | - | - | 6:09 | - | - | 6:10 | - |
 | |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
Rain (mm) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| Temp. °C | 13 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| Feels °C (?) | 11 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 3 | -4 | -3 | -4 | -1 | 1 | -2 |
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Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
Recent Eyeball Surf Reports for Catlins
The wind is still cross-on at Papatowai (light winds from the NE at Nugget Point Automatic Weather Station 29 km from Papatowai). 1.4m 14s groundswell from the SW with a 0.9m 18s long period groundswell from the SSW. 2 swells combining to make bigger set waves.
29 km away, 39 min ago
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 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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