Surf Forecasts:
Rabbit Island surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, NNE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, NNE swell with 400 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 24) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period. 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rabbit Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna level with you – the next couple of weeks are a proper write-off. There’s nothing on the cards that’s worth paddling out for. The whole 16-day outlook is a dud. We’ve got a couple of tiny pulses of energy, but they’re all marked “poor surf conditions,” so don’t get your hopes up.
Tuesday morning, July 21st, there’s a glassy, clean start at Rabbit Island, but the swell is a pathetic 0.3 ft from the north with a long 11-second period. The combined energy is a measly 2 (weak). It’s basically a lake. That holds through Thursday, July 23rd, with a similar story. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.
On Friday, July 24th, the afternoon sees a bump to 4 ft from the north, but the period drops to 7 seconds and the wind is onshore from the north at 9 mph. The energy jumps to 181 (moderate), but the wind and short period will make it a mess. After that, from Saturday, July 25th, right through to Monday, August 4th, we’ve got endless days of “poor surf conditions” with barely any swell, or flat spells where the wave height is a dash. The wind is often offshore or glassy, but there’s simply no swell to work with.
The only flicker of hope is Thursday afternoon, July 30th, with a 4 ft swell from the northwest at 6 seconds, and energy of 90 (weak). The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean, but the period is short and the size is underwhelming. Then again on Sunday, August 2nd, there’s a 2 ft, 5-second north-northwest swell with glassy conditions – tiny, weak, and barely rideable. For a break that’s already inconsistent, this is a long, dry stretch. If you’re desperate, you might get a knee-high wave on the 30th or the 2nd, but honestly, the kite surfers will have more fun with the clean but flat conditions. I’ll be on the beach with a coffee. Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri afternoon, min 3°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | N 16 | N 9 | N 8 | N 7 | NW 4 | NW 5 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 14 | NNW 15 | NNE 16 | NNW 15 | N 7 | NNW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 74 | 0 | 181 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 400 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | glassy | off | off | on | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 2:36AM3.76m | 2:59PM3.61m | 3:23AM3.56m | 3:44PM3.43m | 4:16AM3.37m | 4:38PM3.29m | 5:17AM3.23m | 5:49PM3.22m | 6:24AM3.16m | 7:15PM3.28m | 7:30AM3.18m | 8:20PM3.44m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:33AM1.25m | 8:41PM1.39m | 9:23AM1.45m | 9:39PM1.61m | 10:19AM1.60m | 10:59PM1.76m | 11:20AM1.69m | 00:16AM1.78m | 12:23PM1.71m | 1:19AM1.70m | 1:26PM1.67m | 2:11AM1.58m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | |  | |  |  | | | |  | | |
 | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 5 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
Feels °C | 6 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | N 11 | N 11 | NW 4 | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | NW 15 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | — | — | NW 16 | NNW 14 | NNW 15 | NW 16 | NNW 9 | ESE 4 | NNW 14 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 21 | — | — | 11 | 180 | 326 | 477 | 16 | 5 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | — | — | N 10 | — | — | — | — | NW 14 | N 13 | — | — | — | N 8 | SSW 3 | — | ENE 4 | SE 4 | ENE 4 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | 44 | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 14 | — | — | NW 13 | N 16 | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 15 | N 7 | — |
| kJ | 8 | — | — | 7 | 5 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 4 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 2 | SSW 2 | — | — | — | NW 4 | NW 5 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | W 3 | — | NNE 16 | SSE 3 | SE 4 | SSE 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 74 | 181 | 181 | 125 | 5 | — | 400 | 5 | 13 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 90 | 90 | 92 | 109 | 8 | 127 | 127 | 122 | 201 | 77 | 0 | 92 | 68 | 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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