Rabbit Island Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.26° S 173.14° E

Rabbit Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 29 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rabbit Island sea temperature is
11.7° C
0.8° 

Rabbit Island surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Rabbit Island surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, N swell with 297 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period with N 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 19s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rabbit Island in the next 16 days are 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Fri 31st Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 7s
Best Surf12AM (Fri 31st Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 7s
Most Powerful 9PM (Thu 30th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rabbit Island over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break it down. Rusty here.

I gotta be honest with you—this stretch for Rabbit Island is a bummer. The whole 16-day window is mostly flat, with only a few tiny bumps that won’t get you excited. It’s a quiet run, with just a couple of weak pulses that barely count.

It starts on Thursday, July 30th with a little 3ft swell from the north, but it’s short-period (6 seconds) and the combined energy is only 99 (weak). Thursday morning is glassy with a light SSW breeze, so it’s clean, but the waves are weak. That afternoon the wind shifts north at 6 mph, onshore, making it even worse.

Then we hit a real dead zone. From Friday, July 31st all the way through Wednesday, August 12th, it’s mostly zeros—no swell to speak of. A few days show tiny 0.3ft to 0.7ft bumps, but they’re not worth your time. Combined energy rarely gets above single digits. Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

The only slight moment comes on Thursday, August 6th, with a 1ft northerly swell, period of 6 seconds, and combined energy of 10 (weak). Glassy conditions that afternoon, but it’s barely a ripple. Then on Friday, August 7th, we get the best of a bad lot: 1ft swell from the north, period stretching to 9 seconds in the morning, and combined energy of 37 (still weak). The wind is glassy to calm, so it’ll be clean, but it’s tiny. That afternoon the period bumps to 11 seconds, but energy is 35 (weak). For a beginner spot that’s inconsistent, this is a rare moment of something rideable, but it’s not going to get you stoked.

Later, there’s a tiny 0.3ft, 19-second groundswell on Saturday, August 8th (combined energy 13, weak), with offshore wind, but it’s too small to do anything. Same on Monday, August 10th—another 0.3ft, 19-second pulse with offshore wind, but again, energy is only 13.

Bottom line: no standout here. The whole 16 days is a washout for surf. If you’re a kite surfer, maybe a few afternoons with breeze could be fun, but for a paddle, you’re better off waiting. Forecasts can change, but right now it’s a long, flat spell.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 4°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 3°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
N
5
1
N
6
1
N
6
1.4
N
7
1.2
NNW
8
1.2
NNW
8
0.8
N
8
0.6
N
8
0.1
NE
5
0.1
NE
4
0.1
N
6
0.1
N
6
0.1
NW
21
0.1
NW
19
0.1
NW
18
0.1
NW
17
0.1
NW
16
0.2
ENE
4
0.4
NE
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
18
62
64
210
0
0
84
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
5
Wind (km/h)
5
SSW
5
SSW
10
N
5
WSW
15
W
20
W
5
S
10
SSW
5
N
5
SSW
5
SSW
5
NNE
15
SW
15
SW
20
SW
10
SW
0
ESE
5
N
5
NNE
Wind State
glassy
glassy
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
glassy
off
glassy
on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
glassy
High Tide
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
1:02PM3.81m
1:11AM4.02m
1:39PM3.75m
1:51AM3.89m
Low Tide
4:03AM1.18m
4:34PM0.99m
4:37AM1.06m
5:07PM0.85m
5:11AM0.95m
5:38PM0.78m
5:47AM0.88m
6:10PM0.79m
6:22AM0.86m
6:42PM0.87m
7:00AM0.90m
7:19PM1.00m
clear
part cloud
rain showers
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
rain showers
cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:37
7:35
7:35
7:33
7:33
7:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:34
5:35
 mm
1
10
1
1
1
1
Temp °C
7
11
13
11
11
10
8
9
11
5
10
10
5
14
14
9
10
10
9
Feels °C
5
10
11
9
6
5
6
6
8
2
8
7
1
9
9
5
9
8
8
  • 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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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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