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Surf Forecasts:

Punakaiki surf break

Punakaiki surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Monday 23 Feb 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Punakaiki surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Punakaiki sea temperature is
18.1° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Punakaiki this week:

The surf forecast for Punakaiki over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Feb 23) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Punakaiki in the next 12 days are 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Feb 25) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Monday (Mar 02) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Mon 23rd Feb)3.5ft (1.1m) 12s
Best Surf 7PM (Wed 25th Feb)5ft (1.6m) 15s
Most Powerful 4PM (Wed 25th Feb)5ft (1.6m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Punakaiki over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
23
Tuesday
24
Wednesday
25
Thursday
26
Friday
27
Saturday
28
Sunday
01
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
1
1
3
3
3
3
3
2
1
2
2
3
3
2
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.6
W
1.4
WSW
1
W
0.8
W
1.4
W
1.2
WNW
1
W
1.6
W
1.4
WSW
1.2
WSW
1.4
W
1.5
W
1.7
W
1.1
W
1
W
1.5
WSW
1.5
WSW
0.8
WSW
1.4
WSW
1.7
W
1.8
WSW
Period(s) (?)1212121110916161514141313131314131310910
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)7865692701573492325421297857613725799972389329758724212370516707
Wind
(km/h)
5
N
10
W
0
S
10
NNE
10
NNW
15
NE
5
WSW
10
W
15
NNE
15
NNE
10
WNW
15
WSW
5
WSW
10
WNW
10
ENE
10
N
10
WNW
10
S
20
SW
20
WSW
20
ESE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glasscross-
on		glasscross-
off		crossoffglasscross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
on		ononcross-
on		offcross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		oncross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
3:46PM
2.60
4:13AM
2.49
4:45PM
2.43
5:18AM
2.36
6:00PM
2.29
6:37AM
2.30
7:25PM
2.26
8:00AM
2.34
8:44PM
2.34
9:11AM
2.49
9:47PM
2.48
10:08AM
2.65
10:38PM
2.63
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:02PM
0.41
10:30AM
0.47
11:02PM
0.58
11:39AM
0.60
12:16AM
0.70
1:00PM
0.65
1:38AM
0.72
2:21PM
0.58
2:52AM
0.61
3:29PM
0.43
3:53AM
0.45
4:25PM
0.26
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
Wednesday
25
Thursday
26
Friday
27
Saturday
28
Sunday
01
Sunrise7:05--7:07--7:07--7:09--7:11--7:11--7:13--
Sunset-8:29--8:27--8:25--8:23--8:22--8:21--8:19-
part cloud
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
light rain
rain showers
clear
Rain (mm)
--------52112------22-
Temp. °C161715191917191916171716161715171714151511
Feels °C (?)15161319191618191616171714151515151212126
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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 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.

View detailed surf forecast for Punakaiki at:
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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 12 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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