Surf Forecasts:
Rabbit Island surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, N swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, N swell with 419 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rabbit Island in the next 16 days are 1.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rabbit Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s look at what’s goin’ on.
Gotta be honest, this is a pretty grim stretch for Rabbit Island. The water’s sittin’ at about 53°F, which is average for the time of year, nothin’ strange. But the surf? Man, it’s flat or tiny for most of the 16 days. From August 10th all the way through the 23rd, there’s a long gap of near-zero action, with just a few weak little pulses that won’t do much.
The only real chance you’ve got is on Sunday, August 9th, in the morning. That’s the one to eye. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the north, with a period of 9 seconds, and the wind is blowin’ light offshore from the SSW, cleanin’ it up real nice. The combined energy is 320 (moderate). It’s not huge, but for a beginner-friendly, inconsistent spot like Rabbit Island, it’s the best we’ve got. The swell is comin’ from the north, and the optimum here is from the NNW, so it’s close enough to work. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-on wind and a 4ft swell, so morning is the time to be in the water.
After that, we’re lookin’ at a long dry run. From the 10th right through the 23rd, it’s all waves under 3ft, mostly a puny 0.6ft to 2ft, and often nothin’ at all. The energy numbers are all below 100, mostly single digits or teens – real weak. The wind is often glassy or light, but there’s just no push. For a spot that’s already inconsistent, this kind of flat spell is pretty normal for the area when the swell windows don’t line up.
So, if you’re itchin’ for a surf, Sunday morning, August 9th, is your only real window. After that, leave the board on the rack and keep an eye on the forecast – it can change, but right now it’s a wait and see.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 10 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | NNE 5 | N 5 | N 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 11 | 11 | 83 | 320 | 305 | 148 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 34 | 82 | 50 | 24 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 5:21PM3.27m | 5:58AM3.39m | 7:11PM3.37m | 7:18AM3.49m | 8:26PM3.68m | 8:29AM3.68m | 9:19PM4.01m | 9:29AM3.89m | 10:04PM4.25m | 10:20AM4.07m | 10:44PM4.38m | 11:05AM4.18m | 11:23PM4.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:36AM1.47m | 11:48PM1.47m | 12:01PM1.48m | 1:05AM1.32m | 1:27PM1.35m | 2:11AM1.08m | 2:38PM1.11m | 3:06AM0.82m | 3:34PM0.87m | 3:54AM0.61m | 4:21PM0.69m | 4:37AM0.49m | 5:01PM0.60m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — |
 | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — |
mm | — | — | 28 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | NNW 8 | NW 18 | N 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | NE 4 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 10 | N 6 | N 5 | NNE 5 | N 5 | N 7 |
| kJ | 11 | 13 | 13 | 320 | 305 | 148 | 79 | 55 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 82 | 10 | 24 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | — | — | NW 18 | NW 18 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | ENE 3 | N 14 | N 19 | — | N 10 | NE 4 | NNW 11 | NW 14 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | 13 | — | — | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 7 | — | 8 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 29 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NW 14 | — | — | — | NW 15 | — | — | N 10 | N 17 | N 13 | NW 19 | NNW 14 | NW 18 | — | NW 18 | N 18 | NW 16 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | 2 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 19 | 12 | — | 13 | 6 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 5 | N 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 11 | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 50 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 26 | 108 | 77 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 77 | 90 | 77 | 77 | 36 | 8 | 8 | 77 | 90 | 90 | 92 | 29 |
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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