Surf Break

Lat Long: 43.98° S 168.59° E

Smoothwater Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 03 Oct 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Smoothwater Bay sea temperature is
12.4°C
0.3° 

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


Smoothwater Bay surf forecast from 3 Oct 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 8 Oct, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 8 Oct, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, WSW swell with 7,045 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 4 Oct, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 14s 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 Sunday (Oct 04) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Smoothwater Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Oct 08) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Oct 08) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sun 4th Oct)8ft (2.4m) 14s
Best Surf 7PM (Thu 8th Oct)11ft (3.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 4PM (Thu 8th Oct)11ft (3.5m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Smoothwater Bay over the next 16 days.


Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 56mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri morning).

Sat
3
Sunday
4
Monday
5
Tuesday
6
Wednesday
7
Thursday
8
Friday
9
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
3
3
3
2
3
4
2
2
2
2
2
4
6
7
6
5
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
WSW
14
2.4
WSW
14
2.1
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
13
1.6
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
17
1.7
WSW
16
1.7
WSW
16
1.8
SW
17
3.5
N
8
1.7
WSW
16
2.1
WSW
15
3
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
17
3
WSW
16
2.5
WSW
15
2.3
WSW
14
2
WSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2765
2153
1590
1283
972
862
1193
1714
1390
1356
1907
1234
1637
1797
4094
7045
5076
3092
2200
1495
Wind (km/h)
5
WSW
10
ESE
10
ENE
10
NE
5
ENE
5
NE
10
NNE
10
ESE
15
ENE
15
ENE
20
ENE
30
ENE
30
ENE
20
SE
20
SSE
5
W
15
SSE
5
ENE
5
N
5
SSE
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
off
off
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
off
High Tide
5:08PM1.78m
5:57AM1.73m
6:30PM1.73m
7:16AM1.71m
7:50PM1.75m
8:28AM1.74m
8:59PM1.83m
9:31AM1.81m
9:56PM1.92m
10:23AM1.89m
10:44PM2.00m
11:08AM1.96m
11:26PM2.05m
Low Tide
11:34PM0.61m
12:08PM0.68m
00:57AM0.63m
1:31PM0.68m
2:13AM0.58m
2:44PM0.60m
3:17AM0.48m
3:44PM0.50m
4:11AM0.39m
4:33PM0.39m
4:57AM0.31m
5:17PM0.31m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
cloud
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
—
—
7:13
—
—
7:11
—
—
7:11
—
—
7:09
—
—
7:07
—
—
7:05
—
—
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:53
—
—
7:54
—
—
7:55
—
—
7:57
—
—
7:58
—
—
8:00
—
—
8:00
—
 mm
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1
—
5
27
21
3
—
—
—
—
—
—
Temp °C
12
11
10
11
11
10
11
11
10
11
11
10
11
10
15
15
12
13
12
13
Feels °C
10
9
8
9
9
8
8
8
6
7
7
4
5
5
13
13
9
11
10
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Smoothwater Bay:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Smoothwater Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest