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Surf Forecasts:

Punakaiki surf break

Punakaiki surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 pm Sunday 16 Nov 2025 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
15.1° C
 (Which is slightly warmer than usual)

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 Sunday (Nov 16) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Punakaiki in the next 12 days are 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Nov 18) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 11s period and expected on Tuesday (Nov 18) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sun 16th Nov)4.5ft (1.3m) 11s
Best Surf 1PM (Tue 18th Nov)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 4PM (Tue 18th Nov)13ft (4.0m) 12s

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 Heavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the NNE by Tue morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
1
1
1
!
2
1
0
2
2
1
2
1
0
3
4
2
3
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.7
W
1.1
W
0.6
W
1.4
NW
0.9
WNW
3
NW
4
NW
2.5
NW
1.8
NW
1.2
NW
1.4
W
1.9
W
1.8
W
1.6
W
1.6
W
1.6
W
1.5
W
1.5
W
1.4
W
1.2
WSW
1.1
WSW
Period(s) (?)1211117111012111091014141314131416141413
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)80229182199217197442571432589247426148411728889619028181079813588431
Wind
(km/h)
5
WNW
10
NE
15
NE
25
NNE
20
NE
40
NNE
30
NNE
10
SW
15
SSW
20
SW
10
SSE
15
SW
20
SW
10
S
10
SW
15
SW
10
S
5
W
10
WNW
5
ENE
5
WNW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		offcross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		crosscross-
on		cross-
on		crosscross-
on		oncrossglasscross-
on		glassglass
High Tide
/ height (m)
9:17PM
2.41
9:41AM
2.43
9:57PM
2.47
10:18AM
2.50
10:35PM
2.52
10:53AM
2.56
11:11PM
2.56
11:28AM
2.60
11:47PM
2.57
12:03PM
2.61
12:23AM
2.56
12:39PM
2.59
1:00AM
2.51
Low Tide
/ height (m)
3:28AM
0.49
3:48PM
0.51
4:07AM
0.44
4:27PM
0.45
4:44AM
0.41
5:03PM
0.40
5:20AM
0.40
5:40PM
0.38
5:56AM
0.41
6:16PM
0.38
6:32AM
0.44
6:53PM
0.41
7:09AM
0.49
Sun
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunrise--6:03--6:01--6:01--6:00--5:58--5:58--5:58
Sunset8:35--8:36--8:37--8:38--8:39--8:40--8:42--
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
Rain (mm)
---139213-------------
Temp. °C131017161616161515151217171417171416161416
Feels °C (?)117131212911151110913141215151315151416
  • 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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Quick surf report for Punakaiki:

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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:
surf-forecast.com

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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