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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 am Wednesday 18 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
18.8° 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 Wednesday (Feb 18) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 18s 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 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Feb 21) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 11s period and expected on Friday (Feb 20) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Wed 18th Feb)1.5ft (0.5m) 18s
Best Surf 4AM (Mon 23rd Feb)6.5ft (2.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 4AM (Sat 21st Feb)8ft (2.5m) 13s

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 Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sat night, calm by Mon morning).

Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
3
3
2
0
0
3
3
2
1
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.4
WSW
0.5
W
0.6
WSW
0.7
WSW
0.5
WSW
1.8
W
1.9
W
2.5
W
1.3
WSW
2.4
W
2.3
W
2
W
2.1
W
1.9
W
2
W
1.7
W
1.5
W
1.1
W
0.8
W
0.5
W
1.5
W
Period(s) (?)2018161615889131213149913131212111111
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)128169214256128378413955590179217551643732561139797269434716062524
Wind
(km/h)
5
N
5
WNW
5
W
15
N
15
NNE
15
WSW
15
W
35
WSW
20
SW
10
SW
10
WSW
20
NNW
25
SW
25
SW
5
S
5
NNE
10
WNW
5
SSE
5
E
15
NE
5
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glassglassoncross-
off		cross-
off		onononcross-
on		cross-
on		oncrossoncross-
on		cross-
on		glasscross-
on		crossglasscross-
off		on
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:20PM
2.86
12:41AM
2.78
12:56PM
2.92
1:18AM
2.82
1:34PM
2.93
1:56AM
2.80
2:13PM
2.87
2:37AM
2.74
2:57PM
2.76
3:21AM
2.63
3:46PM
2.60
4:13AM
2.49
4:45PM
2.43
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:33PM
0.07
6:47AM
0.12
7:10PM
0.01
7:24AM
0.09
7:48PM
0.02
8:04AM
0.11
8:28PM
0.10
8:46AM
0.20
9:12PM
0.23
9:34AM
0.32
10:02PM
0.41
10:30AM
0.47
11:02PM
0.58
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
Sunrise6:58--7:01--7:01--7:03--7:03--7:05--7:07--
Sunset-8:36--8:35--8:32--8:31--8:30--8:29--8:27-
clear
clear
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
Rain (mm)
--11-96----101------41
Temp. °C181716161716171614151616161615161714181717
Feels °C (?)1717161315121598131412111112151613171617
  • 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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