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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 am Monday 10 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
14.9° 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 Monday (Nov 10) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s period. 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Nov 14) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Monday (Nov 10) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Mon 10th Nov)3.5ft (1.0m) 13s
Best Surf10AM (Fri 14th Nov)7ft (2.2m) 15s
Most Powerful 7PM (Fri 14th Nov)11ft (3.5m) 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 Heavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Mon morning, calm by Wed morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon).

Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sun
16
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
0
2
0
0
2
2
2
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
3
3
4
3
1
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.1
W
0.7
WSW
0.6
WSW
2.5
NW
3.5
W
2.1
W
1
NW
1.1
W
1.1
W
0.9
WSW
1.2
W
2.2
W
1.5
W
2.2
W
1.8
W
3.5
W
3
W
3
W
2.4
W
1.8
W
1.2
W
Period(s) (?)1312129111091111109881514131213131212
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)40816211510602527787155319307167225619248219312253606269730781968930404
Wind
(km/h)
10
ENE
25
NNE
35
N
20
NW
20
SW
20
SSW
10
SE
5
SW
5
WSW
20
SSW
15
SW
15
SW
5
SSW
15
N
35
W
25
SW
10
SSW
15
SW
10
SE
10
N
10
NW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offcross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
off		glassglasscross-
on		cross-
on		oncross-
on		cross-
off		ononcross-
on		oncross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
2:46AM
2.65
3:09PM
2.67
3:46AM
2.47
4:12PM
2.51
4:53AM
2.32
5:21PM
2.39
6:05AM
2.24
6:32PM
2.33
7:13AM
2.23
7:36PM
2.33
8:11AM
2.28
8:31PM
2.36
8:59AM
2.35
Low Tide
/ height (m)
8:56AM
0.36
9:31PM
0.33
9:56AM
0.52
10:36PM
0.48
11:02AM
0.65
11:45PM
0.58
12:11PM
0.70
12:52AM
0.61
1:18PM
0.70
1:53AM
0.59
2:16PM
0.65
2:44AM
0.54
3:05PM
0.58
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sun
16
Sunrise-6:09--6:07--6:07--6:05--6:05--6:03--6:03-
Sunset--8:27--8:28--8:30--8:30--8:31--8:34--8:35
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
-51381---1111-194-----
Temp. °C151616151415131615141414121512111314111516
Feels °C (?)12121110101111151411121191054101081214
  • 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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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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