Surf Forecasts:
Punakaiki surf forecast from 15 Nov 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 27 Nov, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, WNW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 27 Nov, 7AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, W swell with 5,653 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 19 Nov, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Punakaiki this week:
The surf forecast for Punakaiki over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Nov 19) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Punakaiki in the next 16 days are 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Nov 27) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Nov 26) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 19th Nov) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 27th Nov) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Fri 27th Nov) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Punakaiki over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 69mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 15 | Monday 16 | Tuesday 17 | Wednesday 18 | Thursday 19 | Friday 20 | Saturday 21 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 8 | W 9 | W 11 | W 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 164 | 123 | 884 | 671 | 1011 | 488 | 293 | 431 | 711 | 632 | 947 | 1148 | 1881 | 1609 | 451 | 298 | 238 | 173 | 129 | 87 | 57 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:17PM2.29m | 3:47AM2.16m | 4:09PM2.20m | 4:43AM2.10m | 5:07PM2.16m | 5:45AM2.08m | 6:08PM2.17m | 6:47AM2.14m | 7:07PM2.25m | 7:43AM2.25m | 8:03PM2.37m | 8:35AM2.40m | 8:54PM2.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:38PM0.71m | 9:57AM0.81m | 10:31PM0.77m | 10:53AM0.85m | 11:30PM0.78m | 11:53AM0.85m | 00:29AM0.73m | 12:53PM0.79m | 1:26AM0.64m | 1:49PM0.67m | 2:19AM0.50m | 2:41PM0.52m | 3:08AM0.36m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:40 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 28 | 32 | 7 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | NW 8 | W 9 | W 11 | W 13 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 13 | W 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 |
| kJ | 164 | 123 | 884 | 671 | 1011 | 488 | 264 | 115 | 711 | 632 | 17 | 1148 | 1881 | 1609 | 292 | 206 | 238 | 92 | 82 | 62 | 40 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 18 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | NW 8 | WSW 14 | NW 8 | N 14 | N 11 | W 13 | — | — | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | N 7 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | 34 | 30 | 51 | 82 | 133 | 301 | 169 | 431 | 64 | 4 | 2 | 427 | — | — | 451 | 298 | 1 | 173 | 129 | 87 | 57 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 12 | N 12 | — | — | — | N 17 | WSW 14 | NW 8 | N 15 | — | N 13 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | N 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | 293 | 109 | 4 | — | 4 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 4 | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 15 | — | 212 | — | — | — | — | — | 126 | 947 | — | — | — | — | — | 186 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 38 | 178 | 92 | 201 | 185 | 168 | 177 | 215 | 48 | 190 | 209 | 185 | 0 | 226 | 10 | 167 | 209 | 10 | 25 | 48 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Punakaiki Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Punakaiki provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Punakaiki can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Punakaiki 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 (Punakaiki) 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 Punakaiki 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.
Punakaiki is 186 km (116 miles) from the city of Nelson. If you plan a holiday in West Coast South Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Nelson. Nelson has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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