Schnappers Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.20° S 173.33° E

Schnappers Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Schnappers Point sea temperature is
12.4°C
0.2° 

Schnappers Point surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Schnappers Point surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, N swell with 688 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Schnappers Point in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) 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 0.9m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Mon 24th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
Best Surf 9PM (Fri 28th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 8s
Most Powerful 9AM (Fri 28th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Schnappers Point over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Honestly, this outlook is a tough one to write. We’re looking at a long stretch ahead with very little to get excited about. The main spot on the radar is Schnappers Point, a point break that needs a solid NW swell to really fire, and while we do see a spike in size, the conditions around it are messy. The best chance for a wave is likely Friday the 28th of August, but even that comes with a fair few caveats.

Right off the bat, the water temp is 54°F, which is right about average for the time of year, so nothing wild there. Let’s get into the schedule.

The first few days are a write-off. Through Sunday the 23rd and into the middle of next week, we’ve got a smear of tiny, weak swell and cross or onshore winds. The swell energy is pitiful, reading as low as 8 to 36 (weak) on the combined energy scale. You’d be wasting your time.

Thursday the 27th shows a brief glassy moment in the morning with a 1ft NNW swell, but the period is a short 4 seconds, making for weak, crumbly waves. The afternoon brings a 12 mph NNW onshore, so it’s dead.

The standout, and really the only period worth paddling out for, is Friday the 28th of August. The morning delivers a solid 10ft swell from the NNW with a 9-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1809 (very strong), so there’s plenty of water moving. However, the wind is a cross-onshore from the NW at 9 mph, and the wave comment is “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” For a point break like Schnappers, that’s a lot of energy, but the onshore wind will chop it up. The afternoon sees the swell drop to 7ft (energy still high at 958), but still with that cross-onshore wind. This is solid, punchy swell, but the quality will be poor. It’ll be lumpy and harder to surf.

After that spike, it drops right back into the doldrums. From Saturday the 29th of August all the way through to Monday the 7th of September, we see hardly anything worth mentioning. Most days show tiny swell (0.3ft to 3ft) with weak energy (mostly below 100). There are rare moments of clean, offshore wind on the 3rd of September morning (3ft from the N, 8 seconds, energy 137), but the size is too small to make a point break like this work properly. It’s simply “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.”

Overall, the window is brutal. You’ve got one potential session on the 28th for the risk-takers who don’t mind a bumpy, high-energy ocean. After that, it’s a long, flat spell for the next week and a half. Don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the N by Thu night).

Sun
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
N
9
0.4
NNW
14
0.4
NNW
15
0.4
NNW
7
0.2
NNW
15
0.2
NNW
15
0.6
NNW
5
0.3
NNW
5
0.4
NW
5
0.8
NW
5
0.4
NNW
4
0.1
N
17
0.7
NNW
5
1
N
5
2.4
N
8
1.7
N
8
1.1
N
8
0.8
N
8
0.6
N
8
0.3
N
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
256
78
89
18
23
23
0
5
0
38
7
6
22
49
688
392
160
84
45
10
Wind (km/h)
25
WSW
25
SW
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
SW
10
WSW
15
WSW
15
SW
10
SW
5
NW
5
NNW
5
NNE
20
N
30
N
25
NNW
25
NNW
10
SW
15
WSW
10
WNW
15
SW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
glassy
glassy
on
on
on
on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
6:20PM2.43m
6:54AM2.39m
7:27PM2.58m
7:54AM2.55m
8:18PM2.77m
8:40AM2.74m
9:00PM2.98m
9:19AM2.93m
9:36PM3.17m
9:55AM3.10m
10:10PM3.32m
10:30AM3.24m
10:44PM3.42m
Low Tide
00:44AM1.10m
1:09PM1.01m
1:47AM0.92m
2:04PM0.82m
2:34AM0.70m
2:48PM0.61m
3:14AM0.48m
3:26PM0.41m
3:50AM0.28m
4:02PM0.24m
4:24AM0.13m
4:36PM0.13m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:00
6:58
6:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
5:58
5:59
 mm
1
2
12
15
1
Temp °C
12
10
14
15
11
14
14
11
16
16
13
14
14
13
14
14
11
14
15
9
Feels °C
6
3
9
10
7
10
10
8
14
14
12
13
11
9
11
10
10
10
12
5
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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

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