
Surf Forecasts:
Schnappers Point surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, NNW swell with 534 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with NW 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 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s is also forecast. 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 1.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 9AM. 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 9s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Schnappers Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, this is Rusty, and we’re about to have a pretty grim run at Schnappers Point. The good news is there are a couple of windows where you can get wet and maybe even have a surf, but you’ll need to pick your moments. For a point break that’s "fairly consistent" and usually offers up something with that North-West swell exposure, it’s about to go very quiet for long stretches. We’ve got a few days of small, ordinary waves, then a big gap with almost nothing.
The Overall Picture
We start on Thursday the 3rd of September with some hope. Thursday morning is a real tease – we’ve got a 4ft swell coming from the NW, and with the wind coming out of the WNW at just 3 mph, it’s glassy. The combined wave energy is weak (84), so it's not pumping, but for a point break, a clean 4ft NW swell with glassy conditions is worth a look. It’ll be small, clean, and rideable. That afternoon, however, the wind swings and the swell drops right off to 3ft, and it’s looking marginal.
Then things get ugly. Friday the 4th sees a spike in energy (534 – moderate to strong) with 6ft of NW swell, but it comes with 12 mph cross-onshore wind and moderate rain. That combo will be a messy chop. Too big for beginners at 6ft, and for anyone else it’s just poor quality.
The Standout – Thursday Morning, 3rd September
Honestly, the only bright spark in the first week is Thursday morning. Schnappers Point with a 4ft NW swell and that glassy, almost no-wind situation is clean. The tide should be okay, and a point break like this with a north-west direction matching the optimum NW swell direction is a good sign. It's the kind of morning a surfer hates to miss, even if the energy is low. Just be aware, "often" crowded here, so you won't be alone.
The Gaps
After Thursday afternoon, we grind through Friday and Saturday with poor to marginal conditions. By Sunday the 6th, the onshore wind is up and it’s only 3ft. From Monday the 7th onward, the numbers drop off a cliff into a long, flat spell. For a week and a half – from Tuesday the 8th right through to Wednesday the 16th – the combined energy barely breaks 100, and most days show 0.3ft to 1ft of wind slop or near-flatness. Wind is often cross or cross-on, and the few periods of glass are wasted on next to no swell. There are long gaps here of several days where you simply wouldn't bother paddling out. It’s a classic blank run for the area.
The Faint Hope in the Second Week
There’s nothing to get excited about until the final few days of the outlook. Wednesday the 16th afternoon shows a 3ft NW swell, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Thursday the 17th is similar – 2ft to 1ft with onshore winds. The last gasp is Friday the 18th, which is clean with a cross-off wind, but at 0.7ft it’s a flat, glassy lake. No real rideable waves to speak of.
I wouldn't call any of the second week a standout – it's too small and unreliable. If you’ve got a kite, the choppy, windier days like Friday 4th or the moderate cross-onshore days might be more interesting for you, but for a paddle surfer, it's a long wait.
In summary, get out Thursday morning the 3rd or be patient. This is a normal stretch of flatness for this spot, and forecasts can change, but right now it’s a desert.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Thu night, calm by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 5 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | N 6 | N 7 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | NNW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | 67 | 42 | 93 | 534 | 252 | 92 | 43 | 31 | 75 | 36 | 128 | 152 | 134 | 134 | 60 | 43 | 12 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:15AM3.17m | 1:41PM3.08m | 2:04AM2.96m | 2:35PM2.90m | 3:04AM2.74m | 3:43PM2.74m | 4:22AM2.58m | 5:06PM2.68m | 5:49AM2.58m | 6:29PM2.78m | 7:08AM2.72m | 7:38PM2.99m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:24AM0.33m | 7:48PM0.48m | 8:13AM0.54m | 8:45PM0.69m | 9:14AM0.76m | 9:59PM0.87m | 10:36AM0.89m | 11:32PM0.89m | 12:07PM0.85m | 00:57AM0.74m | 1:22PM0.67m | 2:00AM0.49m | |||||||
— | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 7 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 9 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 16 | NNW 5 | — | N 6 | — | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 17 | — | N 7 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 |
9 | 13 | — | 40 | — | 252 | 92 | 43 | 31 | 20 | 73 | — | 152 | 134 | 134 | 60 | 43 | 16 | 7 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 15 | — | NW 15 | — | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 16 | — | — | — | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 14 | NNW 12 | N 8 | N 8 |
— | 4 | — | 9 | — | 10 | 9 | 57 | 57 | 64 | — | — | — | 9 | 9 | 48 | 15 | 12 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 12 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | N 6 | NNW 16 | — | — | NE 4 | W 2 | — | — |
15 | 67 | 42 | 93 | 534 | — | — | — | 135 | 75 | 36 | 128 | 25 | — | — | 12 | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 64 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 122 | 288 | 274 | 11 | 103 | 9 | 122 | 122 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 64 | 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










