
Surf Forecasts:
Smoothwater Bay surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, W swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 16s period, W swell with 10,116 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 15s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Smoothwater Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Smoothwater Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 20s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Smoothwater Bay in the next 16 days are 4.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Smoothwater Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun night, min 6°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the NE by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 70mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | N 8 | NNE 9 | N 9 | WNW 12 | WSW 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | 1550 | 2927 | 2856 | 2697 | 1921 | 1409 | 1072 | 586 | 1268 | 3134 | 621 | 1018 | 1708 | 10116 | 7327 | 5777 | 5176 | 3731 | 2747 | 1809 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 7:22PM1.78m | 7:52AM1.85m | 8:28PM1.86m | 8:57AM1.93m | 9:30PM1.97m | 10:00AM2.02m | 10:28PM2.08m | 10:58AM2.10m | 11:21PM2.17m | 11:51AM2.15m | 00:12AM2.22m | 12:41PM2.16m | 1:00AM2.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:02PM0.55m | 1:36AM0.55m | 2:10PM0.51m | 2:43AM0.47m | 3:16PM0.45m | 3:45AM0.37m | 4:16PM0.37m | 4:42AM0.27m | 5:10PM0.30m | 5:35AM0.20m | 6:01PM0.25m | 6:26AM0.17m | 6:49PM0.24m | ||||||||
8:18 | — | — | 8:18 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | |
— | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 5 | 30 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | N 9 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
2007 | 1550 | 2927 | 2856 | 2697 | 1921 | 1409 | 1072 | 586 | 323 | 178 | 621 | 1018 | 1011 | 10116 | 7327 | 5777 | 5176 | 3731 | 2747 | 1809 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | N 15 | — | N 13 | N 13 | — | SW 23 | WNW 10 | N 8 | WSW 16 | — | NE 7 | — | — | N 7 | N 6 | W 24 |
— | 318 | 460 | — | — | 4 | — | 4 | 3 | — | 21 | 567 | 356 | 1708 | — | 14 | — | — | 4 | 3 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 23 | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 189 | 491 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 6 | N 8 | NNE 9 | — | — | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 21 | 172 | 1268 | 3134 | — | — | 359 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 151 | 228 | 217 | 219 | 0 | 151 | 151 | 228 | 0 | 238 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Smoothwater Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Smoothwater Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Smoothwater Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Smoothwater Bay 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 (Smoothwater Bay) 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 Smoothwater Bay 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 West Coast South Island? If you are looking for accommodation near Smoothwater Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in West Coast South Island, consider staying in Okuru which is 28 km (17 miles) away.










