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Surf Forecasts:

Papatowai surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Sunday 15 Feb 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
15.0° C
 (Which is 2.2°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 Monday (Feb 16) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Papatowai in the next 12 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Feb 21) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Friday (Feb 20) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Mon 16th Feb)4.5ft (1.3m) 13s
Best Surf 1AM (Sat 21st Feb)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sat 21st Feb)10ft (3.0m) 16s

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 Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the W by Fri morning).

Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
2
2
1
2
3
3
3
4
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
5
5
2
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.8
SW
1.6
SW
1.5
SW
1.4
SW
1.3
SW
2.3
E
2.4
E
2.4
E
2.2
E
1.6
SSW
1.8
SW
1.6
SW
1.2
SW
1
SW
0.8
SW
2
WSW
3
WSW
3.5
SW
2.4
SW
2.5
SW
2.2
SW
Period(s) (?)1212131212131211111816161414146713131615
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)94479972157450317831573144511021579165211786064012282918873403186332462027
Wind
(km/h)
10
W
15
SSW
5
SSE
10
SE
15
SE
10
SE
10
SSE
10
SSE
5
SSE
0
SE
10
SE
10
NE
10
W
20
WSW
15
WNW
35
W
35
W
25
W
5
NNW
20
NE
15
N
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offcross-
off		crosscross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		crosscrossglasscross-
on		cross-
on		offoffoffoffoffoffcross-
off		cross-
on		cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
2:16PM
1.73
2:41AM
1.85
2:53PM
1.79
3:17AM
1.90
3:29PM
1.85
3:54AM
1.94
4:07PM
1.89
4:32AM
1.95
4:46PM
1.91
5:12AM
1.94
5:29PM
1.91
5:54AM
1.90
6:15PM
1.89
Low Tide
/ height (m)
8:19PM
0.30
8:45AM
0.34
8:59PM
0.22
9:24AM
0.27
9:38PM
0.15
10:02AM
0.22
10:18PM
0.12
10:42AM
0.20
11:00PM
0.12
11:24AM
0.20
11:45PM
0.16
12:09PM
0.23
12:35AM
0.22
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunrise6:54--6:56--6:56--6:58--7:00--7:01--7:03--
Sunset-8:55--8:54--8:52--8:52--8:50--8:47--8:45-
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
Rain (mm)
--------------32----1
Temp. °C151411131211121212151613161813131412151817
Feels °C (?)121191199111011151512121310565121412
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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