Rabbit Island surf break

Rabbit Island surfForecast / Nelson – Tasman Bay / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Tuesday 21 Oct 2025 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Rabbit Island surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Rabbit Island sea temperature is
14.9° C
(Which is 1.8°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rabbit Island this week:

The surf forecast for Rabbit Island over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Oct 23) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rabbit Island in the next 12 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Oct 27) 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 2.5m 10s period and expected on Tuesday (Oct 28) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Thu 23rd Oct)5ft (1.5m) 8s
Best Surf10PM (Mon 27th Oct)7ft (2.1m) 10s
Most Powerful 7PM (Mon 27th Oct)8ft (2.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rabbit Island over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Mon
27
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.2
N
1.7
NNW
0.2
N
0.2
N
0.1
N
0.1
N
0.5
NNW
1.2
NNW
2
NNW
1.3
N
0.8
N
0.7
N
0.3
N
0.1
N
0.1
N
0.1
N
0.8
NW
0.9
NNW
0.9
NNW
2
N
2.5
N
Period(s) (?)16715141414568887712101256589
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)19017164413104019872083233447364461124
Wind
(km/h)
10
WSW
15
NW
15
W
15
SW
10
SW
10
NW
5
WSW
10
NW
20
NNW
15
SW
15
SW
10
N
15
SW
15
WSW
15
W
10
SW
10
W
15
W
5
NW
15
NNW
20
N
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
off
offcross-
off
crossglasscross-
on
cross-
on
offcross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
on
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
10:30PM
3.91
10:49AM
3.87
11:01PM
3.95
11:24AM
3.96
11:32PM
3.94
11:57AM
4.01
12:03AM
3.87
12:28PM
4.01
12:35AM
3.76
12:58PM
3.95
1:09AM
3.64
1:29PM
3.83
1:48AM
3.50
2:02PM
3.65
Low Tide
/ height (m)
4:24AM
0.88
4:38PM
0.87
4:55AM
0.84
5:07PM
0.87
5:24AM
0.84
5:35PM
0.91
5:54AM
0.89
6:03PM
0.98
6:26AM
0.98
6:33PM
1.07
7:01AM
1.11
7:06PM
1.18
7:41AM
1.26
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Mon
27
Sunrise-6:30--6:28--6:26--6:26--6:24--6:22--6:22-
Sunset--7:53--7:54--7:55--7:57--7:58--8:00--8:00
rain showers
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
light rain
light rain
Rain (mm)
5181-----3---------143
Temp. °C15161813141611221914171691517101717121515
Feels °C (?)13151591013919171414134111361413101113
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for Nelson - Tasman Bay

  1. weather stationWind Update Continuing clean conditions at Rabbit Island (calm at NelsonAeroAws 7 km from Rabbit Island). No surfable waves

    Rabbit Island
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1 h 8 min ago

4 km/h
WNW
Clean
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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 Rabbit Island 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.


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 12 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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