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Paturau River

Paturau River Surf Photo: 'In front of the rocks' by Rob Davies

Lat Long: 40.62° S 172.48° E

Issued: 5 pm 29 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in hr min

Today's Paturau River sea temperature is

14.9° C

1.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year

Paturau River surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.

16 Day Forecast Hourly Wave Energy Map Wave Height Map Wind Map

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Tides Sea Temperature

Guide Reviews (1)Photos (29)

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3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	WSW	ESE	ESE	WSW	N
	12 s	cross- off	5 s	12 s	15 s

Open ocean wave model on 11 February at 3 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	WSW	ESE	ESE	WSW	N
	12 s	off	5 s	12 s	15 s

Open ocean wave model on 11 February at 6 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	ESE	ESE	WSW	N
	12 s	off	5 s	12 s	14 s

Open ocean wave model on 11 February at 9 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	ESE	ESE	WSW	N
	12 s	cross- off	4 s	12 s	14 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 February at 12 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	ESE	ESE	WSW	N
	12 s	cross- off	5 s	12 s	14 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 February at 3 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	ENE	SSE	WSW	ESE
	12 s	glass	2 s	12 s	4 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 February at 6 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	N	N	WSW	E
	11 s	cross- on	3 s	11 s	4 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 February at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	NNW	NE	WSW	N
	11 s	on	4 s	11 s	16 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 February at 12 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	NW	N	WSW	E
	11 s	on	4 s	11 s	4 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 February at 3 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	WNW	N	WSW	N
	12 s	on	4 s	12 s	16 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 February at 6 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	W	NW	WSW	N
	12 s	cross- on	3 s	12 s	4 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 February at 9 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	WNW	NW	WSW	N
	12 s	on	3 s	12 s	4 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 February at 12 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	WNW	NW	WSW	N
	12 s	on	3 s	12 s	4 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 February at 3 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SW	SE		W	NNE
	12 s	glass		12 s	4 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 February at 6 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	WSW	NE		WNW	WSW
	12 s	glass		5 s	12 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 February at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	WSW	N	N	W	WSW
	12 s	glass	4 s	8 s	12 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 February at 12 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	WSW	NNW	NNE	W	WSW
	11 s	cross- on	4 s	9 s	12 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 February at 3 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Paturau River around the time the photo was taken

Image captured One hour and 31 minutes before high water (rising ordinary tide). Tide height was 1.9m (6.2 ft). Range 3.95m (13.0 ft). Toggle tide graph

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Paturau River Surf Photo: 'In front of the rocks' by Rob Davies

Remote Paterau can produce nice lefts in front of the rocks near the rivermouth. The problem is that it is often windy and typically the swell is too big. About 4 foot is ideal: any bigger and the paddle out gets huge and the surging long-shore current takes you away from the peak. Early morning in summer is the best time for surfers to catch it. Otherwise, it has all the ingredients of an excellent windsurfing or kitesurfing spot but in practice hardly anyone ever comes here.

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User: Rob Davies (1346 photos)

Country: New Zealand (2470 photos)

Photo taken at: 3:34 pm 12 Feb 2011