Schnappers Point Surf Forecast and Surf Reports
(Nelson – Tasman Bay, New Zealand)
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Schnappers Point Surf Guide
Schnappers Point in Nelson is an exposed point break that has quite reliable surf. Spring and Summer provide the best conditions. The best wind direction is from the east southeast. Tends to receive distant groundswells and the ideal swell angle is from the north. Best around mid tide when the tide is falling. Rarely crowded here.
Schnappers Point Spot Info
Type: | Rating: |
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Reliability: | Todays Sea Temp*: |
fairly consistent | 21.8°C*ocean temperature recorded from satellite |
Surfing Schnappers Point:
The best conditions reported for surf at Schnappers Point occur when a Northwest swell combines with an offshore wind direction from the South-southeast.
What's the best time of year to surf Schnappers Point (for consistent clean waves)?
Explore Schnappers Point Location Map
Interactive Schnappers Point surf break location map. View information about nearby surf breaks, their wave consistency and rating compared to other spots in the region. Current swell conditions from local buoys are shown along with live wind speed and direction from nearby weather stations. Click icons on the map for more detail. The closest passenger airport to Schnappers Point is Nelson Airport (NSN) in New Zealand, 18 km (11 miles) away (directly). The second nearest airport to Schnappers Point is Woodbourne Airport (BHE), also in New Zealand, 56 km (35 miles) away.

Tuesday, 7 February 2023, 15:58 Local Time
Tuesday 07 | Wed | |||
4PM | 7PM | 10PM | 1AM | |
Wave (m) | ||||
Period (s) | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||
Wind State | cross- on |
cross- on |
cross | cross- off |
Tides at Schnappers Point
NEXT | IS AT (local time) | remaining |
---|---|---|
high tide | ||
low tide |
Swell History at Schnappers Point
Surf stats for Schnappers Point, see the swell variation by month or season on the history page here.
Wind History at Schnappers Point
Wind stats for Schnappers Point, see the variation in direction and stength by month or season on the history page here.
Schnappers Point Reviews:
Interactive Porthcawl Point location map. View nearby buoy information, live wind conditions and surrounding roads, paths and locations to help find new breaks. Click the buoys or wind icon to view more information.
It is located out on the boulder bank, just past the oxidation ponds. It's a nicer setting than it sounds and the views over to the often snow-covered Tasman Mountain is spectacular.
Where the dirt road first reaches the sea you will get a nice view of the swell. Schnappers is usually a but bigger than here so if it looks like there is any swell at all, keep going.
When it is on, it can get crowded by Nelson locals, especially at weekends, but the atmosphere is friendly and there are usually enough waves to go round. The main wave is a steep right hander that can provide makeable hollow sections. There is a left too and although this is described as a close-out in some surf guides, I have found it very good at times with much less competition for waves than the right. The paddle out (and back in) over slippery boulders can be a challenge if you are not wearing boots and often you have to work against the current to stay in position.
Although the Nelson region doesn't receive a lot of swell it would be a mistake for traveling surfers to dismiss it completely because the quality of waves can be excellent and it is certainly one of New Zealand's best towns. Occasionally, when the famous Kaikora coast is either flat or onshore, the Nelson area, 4 hours drive away, is going off.
The reason visiting surfers generally overlooked it is that NW swells are uncommon and usually they are accompanied by onshore winds. Surfing in Nelson usually involves picking the brief window when the wind has dropped but the locally generated swell is still running. Locals get this right and are on it very quickly whereas the chances of passing through Nelson and finding good waves is pretty slim.
It doesn't usually last more than a couple of days, often just a few hours. The much more common SW swells in the Tasman that are so good reliable Taranaki pass Nelson by, on the other side of distant Farewell Spit so all in all there is just a tiny window of swell directions that can get in here; a little better along the coast at Whangamoa.
The exception to the rule that you only get to surf fading windswells is when a sub-tropical depression drops into the Tasman and sends a rare NW groundswell directly into Tasman Bay. When that happens all kinds of weird and wonderful spots start to fire and places like Schnapper, The Cut and Cable Bay approach the quality of New Zealand's more famous locations.”
Other Nearby Breaks Closest To:
Discover surf breaks near Schnappers Point. Click below to view there surf guides.
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Wave Buoys Nearest To Schnappers Point:
- Closest Wave BuoyFairway Beacon6 mi
- Second closest Wave BuoyGolden Bay Buoy42 mi
- Third closest Wave BuoyTory East Head Buoy52 mi
- Fourth closest Wave BuoyBay of Plenty Buoy299 mi
- Fifth closest Wave BuoyBream Bay Buoy374 mi