Surf Forecasts:
Punakaiki surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, W swell with 3,009 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period with WNW 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 (Aug 13) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 12s 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 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Punakaiki over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WSW 16 | W 18 | W 19 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 520 | 508 | 441 | 314 | 470 | 2671 | 2898 | 2601 | 2417 | 2474 | 1280 | 1597 | 631 | 514 | 336 | 286 | 239 | 1148 | 730 | 675 | 734 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | off |
High Tide | 10:58AM2.87m | 11:16PM3.04m | 11:42AM2.90m | 00:00AM3.03m | 12:24PM2.87m | 00:42AM2.95m | 1:05PM2.78m | 1:23AM2.81m | 1:46PM2.65m | 2:05AM2.62m | 2:27PM2.49m | 2:48AM2.42m | 3:11PM2.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:04PM0.03m | 5:32AM-0.09m | 5:49PM0.00m | 6:16AM-0.07m | 6:32PM0.04m | 6:57AM0.03m | 7:14PM0.15m | 7:38AM0.18m | 7:56PM0.30m | 8:19AM0.37m | 8:39PM0.48m | 9:02AM0.58m | 9:27PM0.67m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — |
 | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
| kJ | 520 | 508 | 380 | 202 | 119 | 2671 | 2898 | 2601 | 2417 | 2474 | 1280 | 1597 | 631 | 514 | 188 | 235 | 196 | 1148 | 730 | 675 | 734 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 8 | WSW 16 | W 18 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | — | WSW 10 | W 10 | — |
| kJ | 223 | 89 | 441 | 314 | 411 | — | — | — | — | — | 369 | — | 202 | 153 | 336 | 286 | 239 | — | 235 | 188 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | W 20 | WSW 14 | W 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | W 18 | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 186 | 237 | 196 | 215 | 470 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 57 | 56 | 66 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 168 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 179 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- 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 Punakaiki 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 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.
Nearest