Surf Forecasts:
Rabbit Island surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, N swell with 381 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rabbit Island this week:
The surf forecast for Rabbit Island over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rabbit Island in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rabbit Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Look, I've gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days at Rabbit Island are looking pretty grim. We're staring down a long dry spell with barely a ripple to speak of. The first real chance of anything remotely surfable won't show up until the morning of Thursday, July 30th, which is a solid few days of flat, glassy nothingness.
That Thursday morning, July 30th, we finally get a bit of life. A NNW swell pushes in at about 4ft, and the combined energy is moderate at 153. The wind is glassy, coming from the SSW, so it'll be clean. But the swell period is a short 6 seconds, so it's gonna be a bit lumpy and weak. The water temp is 54°, which is about a degree and a half cooler than normal for this time of year – feels a bit nippy. Honestly, it's surfable, but it's nothing to write home about.
After that, it's back to the doldrums. Friday morning, July 31st, has a tiny 3ft north swell with a cross-offshore wind, but the energy is weak (111) and it's just not enough to get excited about. Then we hit another massive gap. From Saturday, August 1st, all the way through to Tuesday, August 11th, there's basically nothing. A few knee-high blips of 1ft or 2ft here and there, but the combined energy never gets above 34, and the wind is often onshore or glassy. There's a crazy 18-second period swell on the morning of August 5th, but it's only 0.3ft – a ghost of a wave. For a beginner spot that's already inconsistent, this is a total blank run. It's more like a pond than a surf break.
The only real standout in this whole sorry outlook is that Thursday, July 30th morning. It's not great, but it's the best we've got. If you're desperate, you might get a few clean, weak waves. Otherwise, save your energy. The lack of consistency is pretty normal for this area, but even for Rabbit Island, this is a long, quiet stretch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 3°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 2°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 13 | N 12 | N 7 | N 11 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 14 | NW 15 | NNW 12 | N 12 | NNW 4 | NW 19 | NW 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 101 | 80 | 323 | 111 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | on | off | off | glassy | off | glassy | glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | on | off |
High Tide | 9:06PM3.61m | 9:14AM3.43m | 9:44PM3.76m | 9:55AM3.59m | 10:19PM3.89m | 10:33AM3.72m | 10:53PM4.00m | 11:11AM3.81m | 11:26PM4.08m | 11:48AM3.84m | 00:00AM4.12m | 12:25PM3.84m | 00:35AM4.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:24PM1.55m | 2:53AM1.45m | 3:15PM1.37m | 3:29AM1.31m | 3:58PM1.17m | 4:03AM1.18m | 4:34PM0.99m | 4:37AM1.06m | 5:07PM0.85m | 5:11AM0.95m | 5:38PM0.78m | 5:47AM0.88m | 6:10PM0.79m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 5 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | NW 15 | N 5 | N 6 | — | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 14 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 4 |
| kJ | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 52 | — | 323 | 111 | 75 | 233 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 13 | N 12 | NW 12 | N 11 | — | NW 11 | NW 11 | — | NW 14 | NW 17 | — | N 19 | NW 18 | NW 16 | — | NW 15 | NNW 12 | N 12 | — | NW 11 | — |
| kJ | 16 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | 5 | 5 | — | 8 | 12 | — | 7 | 12 | 10 | — | 33 | 13 | 3 | — | 5 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 12 | — | — | — | — | NW 16 | — | — | — | — | NW 16 | — | — | — | NNW 12 | — | NW 13 | — | NW 19 | NW 11 |
| kJ | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | 14 | — | 7 | — | 14 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | N 6 | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | SW 2 | SSW 3 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 35 | 101 | 80 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 91 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 8 | 0 | 122 | 0 | 8 | 118 | 8 | 36 | 92 | 77 | 77 | 90 | 77 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rabbit Island Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rabbit Island provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rabbit Island can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rabbit Island 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 (Rabbit Island) 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 Rabbit Island 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Nelson - Tasman Bay? If you are looking for accommodation near Rabbit Island, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nelson - Tasman Bay, consider staying in Nelson which is 11 km (7 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Blenheim which is 73 km (45 miles) away
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