
Surf Forecasts:
Schnappers Point surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, N swell with 70 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Schnappers Point this week:
The surf forecast for Schnappers Point over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Schnappers Point in the next 16 days are 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Schnappers Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.
It's a quiet period ahead at Schnappers Point. Looking over the whole 16-day window, there's not much to get excited about. The swell energy stays low for the most part, and when it does pop, the conditions are not playing ball.
To start, we've got a run of tiny, weak surf through the middle of September. Saturday the 12th offers up a tiny 1ft swell from the NNW with a rubbish 2-second period and only 1 unit of energy. It's onshore wind, so it's straight up messy. Sunday the 13th is cleaner with a light SSW cross-offshore breeze, but we're talking about a 0.7ft, 17-second groundswell. That’s a long period, but there's no height to it, only 30 units of energy. It's not enough to ride.
The pattern of tiny, inconsistent, and mostly wind-affected conditions continues all the way through to Wednesday the 23rd of September. There are multiple days with zero swell, and on the days with a little bump, the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, making a mess of things. The biggest swell in this stretch is a 4ft, 5-second windswell on Thursday morning the 17th, but it's accompanied by onshore winds at 12 mph and rain, so it's a total washout.
Finally, there's a flicker of hope on Wednesday morning the 23rd. We see a 0.7ft, 18-second groundswell from the NNW with 41 units of energy, and it's paired with a clean, cross-offshore wind from the SW. It's tiny, but it would be the cleanest the place looks in the whole two weeks. Then on Sunday the 27th of September, the afternoon brings the biggest swell of the period at 4ft from the NW with a 6-second period and a solid 115 units of moderate energy. But it comes with a nasty 12 mph cross-onshore wind that chops it right up. This setup would be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.
Honestly, the pick of the bunch is that glassy morning on Thursday the 24th. The swell is only 0.7ft, but the wind is glassy. The water temp is about average for this time of year. There's just nothing with enough size and clean conditions to get stoked about for the paddle. It's a long blank run for the region.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 2 | NNW 3 | NNW 17 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NW 16 | N 5 | NW 15 | NW 15 | N 15 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | N 5 | N 6 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NNW 16 | NNW 4 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | 1 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 39 | 60 | 70 | 31 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 2 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | on | on | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:39PM3.54m | 11:00AM3.45m | 11:16PM3.49m | 11:36AM3.41m | 11:51PM3.36m | 12:11PM3.29m | 00:26AM3.18m | 12:45PM3.12m | 1:02AM2.97m | 1:22PM2.92m | 1:41AM2.74m | 2:05PM2.70m | 2:28AM2.51m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:48AM-0.08m | 5:04PM-0.00m | 5:23AM-0.03m | 5:40PM0.08m | 5:57AM0.10m | 6:15PM0.23m | 6:32AM0.29m | 6:52PM0.43m | 7:08AM0.51m | 7:31PM0.66m | 7:48AM0.75m | 8:16PM0.89m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 9 |
Feels °C | 9 | 4 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 16 | NW 17 | NNW 17 | NNW 17 | ENE 3 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | N 15 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | — | N 5 | — | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 4 |
67 | 44 | 28 | 28 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 7 | — | 15 | — | 31 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 16 | NW 5 | N 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 11 | — | NW 16 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NNW 16 | NW 16 |
— | 1 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 10 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 11 | — | NW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 15 | E 6 | — | — | N 7 |
— | — | 18 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 1 | — | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 2 | WSW 2 | SW 3 | NE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 2 | SW 2 | — | NNW 5 | NW 5 | N 5 | — | E 3 | — | NNW 3 | SW 3 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 39 | 60 | 70 | — | 6 | — | 1 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 103 | 64 | 64 | 116 | 19 | 19 | 122 | 64 | 64 | 128 | 103 | 109 | 187 | 9 | 109 | 109 | 11 | 96 | 122 | 64 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Schnappers Point Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Schnappers Point provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Schnappers Point can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Schnappers Point 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 (Schnappers Point) 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 Schnappers Point 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 Schnappers Point, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nelson - Tasman Bay, consider staying in Nelson which is 14 km (9 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Blenheim which is 62 km (39 miles) away










