Punakaiki surf break

Punakaiki surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Saturday 20 Dec 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
17.7° C
(Which is 1.7°C warmer than 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 Sunday (Dec 21) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Punakaiki in the next 12 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Dec 27) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Dec 25) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sun 21st Dec)3.5ft (1.0m) 7s
Best Surf 4AM (Wed 24th Dec)5ft (1.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sat 27th Dec)11ft (3.5m) 13s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 47mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon night, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat morning, calm by Sun night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NW by Thu afternoon).

Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
3
2
0
3
1
1
0
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.5
W
2.3
W
2.2
W
1.7
W
1.3
W
0.6
WSW
0.5
WSW
0.5
WSW
0.3
WSW
2.2
WNW
2.2
WNW
2
WNW
1.4
W
2.2
WNW
2.2
W
3
WNW
3
WNW
3
W
3
W
2.5
W
2.5
W
Period(s) (?)99988111010109910111110101012131313
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1007854759412208905855187427817474651066938142618832568270923232172
Wind
(km/h)
30
WSW
25
WSW
25
SW
15
WSW
10
WSW
0
SSW
5
NNW
15
N
25
NNE
15
WSW
15
WSW
5
NNW
10
NW
30
WSW
15
NNW
35
NW
30
NW
25
WNW
30
W
15
W
20
WSW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
onononononglasscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
ononglasscrossoncrosscrosscrosscross-
on
cross-
on
onon
High Tide
/ height (m)
11:47AM
2.56
12:08AM
2.52
12:25PM
2.60
12:47AM
2.53
1:02PM
2.61
1:25AM
2.52
1:40PM
2.60
2:03AM
2.49
2:19PM
2.57
2:44AM
2.45
3:01PM
2.53
3:28AM
2.40
3:46PM
2.49
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:00PM
0.42
6:16AM
0.46
6:39PM
0.39
6:54AM
0.44
7:17PM
0.38
7:32AM
0.44
7:56PM
0.38
8:10AM
0.46
8:36PM
0.39
8:51AM
0.48
9:19PM
0.41
9:36AM
0.52
10:06PM
0.44
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Sunrise5:54--5:54--5:54--5:54--5:56--5:56--5:56--
Sunset-9:08--9:08--9:09--9:09--9:10--9:10--9:12-
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
heavy rain
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
light rain
mod rain
mod rain
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
Rain (mm)
435----3322-233469175510
Temp. °C131313141513151517171816151515161614131312
Feels °C (?)7771112121312151616161410911118798
  • 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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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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