Surf Forecasts:
Schnappers Point surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, NNW swell with 137 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s 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 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) 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 7s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Schnappers Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve had a good look at what’s on the cards for Schnappers Point over the next couple of weeks, and I’ll be straight with you – it’s a pretty lean run for a point break that usually has a bit of form. We’ve got a dry start, so don’t bother waxing up just yet.
Saturday 29th August morning is the first real chance, but it’s a frustrating one. We’ve got 2ft of swell pushing from the north with a short period of 8 seconds, so it’s weak little wind swell. The combined energy is a paltry 65 (weak). Water temp is sitting at 55°, and with a +0.9° anomaly, it’s about what you’d expect for this time of year. The wind is a 9 mph cross-off from the SW, which cleans it up, but it’s just not enough juice. The call is “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” Not your day.
From there, it’s a grim stretch. Saturday arvo through to Wednesday 2nd September is basically dead. Sunday 30th has 0.7ft, Monday 31st goes flat with zero energy, and Tuesday 1st September is a joke with a 3-second period from the north. It’s a full-blown lull. On Thursday 3rd September morning we get a glimmer – 3ft from the NNW with a 6-second period and glassy conditions (3 mph WNW). Combined energy is only 57 (weak), another “surfable but very ordinary” call. The arvo stays marginal. Friday 4th September morning pushes 4ft from N with a 7-second period, but it’s cross-shore and the energy reading is 127 (moderate). Still, the wave comment is “poor surf conditions.” Not worth the paddle.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Look ahead to Sunday 6th September morning – we’ve got a solid 6ft from the north, 8-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 393 (moderate) but the wind is howling onshore at 19 mph from the NNW. It’s a messy, blown-out mess. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Monday 7th September arvo has a 3ft from N with a huge 16-second period and 330 energy (moderate), but it’s cross-onshore with marginal conditions. That long-period groundswell might wrap into the point better than the beach, but the crowd factor is “often” here, so expect company if it cleans up.
Now, the true standout is Tuesday 8th September morning. We get 6ft from the north, 9-second period, and the combined energy is 469 (moderate). The wind is dead calm – glassy. The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the best on offer for the whole run. It’s a solid size for the point, just under that 8ft expert-only mark, so intermediate surfers can handle it. The north swell direction isn’t the optimum NW the guidance prefers, but with glassy conditions, it’ll still offer clean lines. A long-period groundswell (9 seconds is decent) will favour the point setup, longer gaps between sets making the paddle out easier. Crowds are often here, so get in early.
Wednesday 9th September morning is another solid 6ft (11 seconds, 651 energy – moderate to strong) but it’s ruined by 19 mph onshore winds. Afternoon sees 6ft with a 14-second period and 1207 energy (strong), but again, choppy and cross-onshore. Unrideable. Thursday 10th September morning is a letdown – back to 3ft, glassy but weak. Friday 11th September morning offers 4ft from the NW (the optimum swell direction) with 6-second period and 130 energy, light offshore from the S at 3 mph. Clean, but only “surfable” – it’s a consolation wave. The last real highlight is Saturday 12th September morning: 1ft from the NNW but with a very long 14-second period. Combined energy is 120 (moderate). It’s cross-on and marginal, so that long-period swell might just line up on the point if you’re patient. The rest fizzles into weak, short-period junk.
Best bet: Tuesday 8th September morning at Schnappers Point. 6ft north swell, glassy, decent period. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the WSW by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | N 8 | NNW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | NW 6 | NW 15 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | N 3 | NNW 15 | NNW 5 | N 17 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
65 | 30 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 39 | 0 | 75 | 114 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 37 | 53 | 58 | 93 | 127 | 57 | 27 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:30AM3.24m | 10:44PM3.42m | 11:04AM3.33m | 11:19PM3.46m | 11:39AM3.36m | 11:55PM3.43m | 12:16PM3.33m | 00:33AM3.34m | 12:56PM3.24m | 1:15AM3.17m | 1:41PM3.08m | 2:04AM2.96m | 2:35PM2.90m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:36PM0.13m | 4:58AM0.03m | 5:11PM0.07m | 5:31AM0.00m | 5:46PM0.08m | 6:06AM0.04m | 6:22PM0.16m | 6:43AM0.15m | 7:03PM0.29m | 7:24AM0.33m | 7:48PM0.48m | 8:13AM0.54m | 8:45PM0.69m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | |
— | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 10 |
Feels °C | 9 | 12 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 7 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 15 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 7 | NW 14 | NNE 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 15 | NNW 6 | NW 14 | NNW 5 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 |
65 | 30 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 55 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 116 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 9 | 53 | 8 | 24 | 127 | 57 | 27 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 21 | NW 19 | N 8 | NW 16 | NW 16 | — | NW 15 | NW 10 | NW 14 | — | NNW 15 | NW 14 | NW 14 | — | N 15 | — | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 16 | NNW 15 |
— | 8 | 14 | 5 | 10 | 38 | — | 55 | 17 | 33 | — | 21 | 8 | 8 | — | 4 | — | 9 | 8 | 10 | 22 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 13 | — | — | NW 18 | N 8 | — | — | — | NNW 15 | — | — | NNW 6 | NW 17 | N 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 11 |
7 | — | — | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | 4 | 12 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 2 | — | WSW 3 | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | N 3 | WSW 2 | WSW 2 | — | NNW 6 | — | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | — | W 3 | — |
1 | — | 3 | — | 46 | 39 | 10 | 75 | 114 | — | 15 | 1 | 1 | — | 37 | — | 58 | 93 | — | 7 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 64 | 64 | 101 | 101 | 103 | 101 | 101 | 249 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 101 | 64 | 0 | 9 | 64 | 11 | 103 | 0 |
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











