Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach surf break

Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach surfForecast / Otago / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Friday 23 Jan 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach sea temperature is
15.1° C
(Which is 2.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 28) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach in the next 12 days are 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jan 25) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 11s period and expected on Saturday (Jan 24) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Wed 28th Jan)5ft (1.5m) 9s
Best Surf 7AM (Wed 28th Jan)5ft (1.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 4AM (Sun 25th Jan)16ft (5.0m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SW on Fri morning, near gales from the WSW by Sat night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the NW by Tue night).

Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Monday
26
Tuesday
27
Wednesday
28
Thursday
29
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.4
SSW
1.9
E
1.9
E
1.6
E
2
SSW
5
SSW
3.5
S
3.5
SSW
3.5
SSW
3
SSW
3
S
2.5
S
2.4
S
2.2
S
1.7
SSE
1.3
SSE
1.1
SSE
0.8
SSE
0.4
SSW
0.4
SSW
0.7
SSW
Period(s) (?)1512121112111212101010101010998712125
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)7497696961711895965328632902276165215371403108788244625714962555321
Wind
(km/h)
25
SW
35
SW
35
WSW
40
WSW
40
SW
50
WSW
35
WSW
35
WSW
35
WSW
30
WSW
30
SW
30
WSW
30
SW
25
SSW
10
SW
10
N
10
ENE
10
W
5
NW
20
S
25
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
onononcross-
on
onononononononononononcross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
glasscross-
on
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
8:20PM
1.64
8:48AM
1.68
9:14PM
1.66
9:42AM
1.66
10:11PM
1.68
10:39AM
1.66
11:10PM
1.72
11:37AM
1.67
12:09AM
1.77
12:35PM
1.69
1:07AM
1.83
1:32PM
1.73
2:04AM
1.88
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:02PM
0.29
2:21AM
0.27
2:47PM
0.30
3:10AM
0.29
3:36PM
0.30
4:04AM
0.31
4:30PM
0.30
5:04AM
0.33
5:29PM
0.29
6:10AM
0.32
6:34PM
0.26
7:18AM
0.30
7:40PM
0.22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Monday
26
Tuesday
27
Wednesday
28
Thursday
29
Sunrise6:16--6:18--6:18--6:20--6:22--6:24--6:24--
Sunset-9:20--9:19--9:17--9:16--9:15--9:15--9:14-
light rain
light rain
cloud
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
Rain (mm)
12-47113352----------1
Temp. °C131212121211131313131313131312141615171513
Feels °C (?)86544277777677813121116129
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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 Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach 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 (Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach) 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 Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach 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 Otago? If you are looking for accommodation near Otago Peninsula - Smaills Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Otago, consider staying in Dunedin which is 7 km (4 miles) away.

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