Surf Forecasts:
Schnappers Point surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, NNW swell with 527 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with N 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 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period. 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 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Schnappers Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s break down what’s on the table for Schnappers Point over the next 16 days.
Gonna level with you straight up: the first week and a bit is a write-off. There’s hardly a pulse. For a point break that needs some juice and the right direction, this is a tough stretch. From Sunday the 30th of August right through to Wednesday the 10th of September, the surf is tiny, messy, or just plain poor. There’s a few mornings with clean, glassy conditions, especially around the 7th and 8th of September, but the swell is so small—0.7 ft to 2 ft from the north or north-northwest—you’d be chasing ripples. Wind is light and variable, sometimes glassy, but there’s just no wave energy to work with. The combined energy barely cracks 100 for most of that time, often sitting in the single digits or teens. The period is all over the shop, from a hopeless 4 seconds to a very long 15 seconds, but none of it matters when the height is knee-high.
Now, things do turn a corner for a couple of days, but it’s a long wait. Thursday the 11th of September morning and afternoon is the real standout. Finally, some proper north-northeast swell moves in, pushing 5 ft with an 8-second period. That’s a solid, punchy little wave for an intermediate here. The combined energy jumps to 291 in the morning and 337 in the afternoon—moderate, but the most we’ve seen. And the wind? Glassy. Both sessions are glassy with a slight air. That’s a big deal. For a point break like Schnappers that needs clean, lined-up waves, glassy conditions with a north-northeast swell matching the optimum northwest direction as close as we’ll get is the best ticket in the whole forecast. It’s a Friday, so expect a few locals out—crowds are often here—but with the quality on offer, it’s worth it.
After that, it drops right back off. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are back to tiny, weak, and messy. The energy fades hard, and the long 14-17 second periods on those mini-swells won’t save you.
Bottom line: the first 12 days are mostly a bust with scattered small, clean windows but nothing rideable. The only true highlight is Thursday the 11th of September. If you’re keen, pencil that in. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | NNW 4 | NNW 15 | NNW 5 | NNW 14 | NNW 6 | NNW 15 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 5 | NNW 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 171 | 74 | 170 | 49 | 149 | 116 | 64 | 54 | 37 | 9 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | glassy | cross | on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 3:04AM2.74m | 3:43PM2.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:14AM0.76m | 9:59PM0.87m | ||||||||
6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 10 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 14 | NW 15 | NNW 15 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | — | N 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 15 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 5 |
4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 138 | 54 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 28 | — | 74 | 56 | 49 | 149 | 116 | 21 | 54 | 37 | 9 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 12 | NW 14 | — | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 15 | NNW 6 | NW 17 | — | — | — | NW 15 | NW 16 | NW 16 | — | NW 15 | NW 16 | NW 16 |
5 | 10 | 38 | 37 | 54 | — | 8 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 11 | — | — | — | 9 | 11 | 10 | — | 58 | 62 | 68 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 18 | N 7 | — | NNW 15 | — | — | — | — | NW 20 | NW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 |
12 | 1 | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 7 | — | — | WSW 2 | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | NNW 7 | — | NNW 7 | NW 6 | — | — | NNW 8 | — | — | — |
— | — | 47 | — | — | 1 | — | 21 | — | — | — | 171 | — | 170 | 123 | — | — | 64 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 101 | 101 | 122 | 101 | 116 | 150 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 122 | 0 | 64 | 0 | 103 | 101 | 0 | 11 | 122 | 64 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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











