Surf Forecasts:
Napier - The Reef surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 44 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Napier - The Reef this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Napier - The Reef in the next 16 days are 0.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 13s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Napier - The Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you—this next couple of weeks is a real tough stretch for waves around Napier - The Reef. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out run of tiny, weak surf, and honestly, there’s no standout session on the cards. If you’re desperate for a paddle, you’ll be scratching for anything rideable.
The whole 16-day window is dominated by flat to knee-high dribble. The first week is particularly grim. From Friday the 11th right through to Sunday the 20th, it’s all below 2ft with combined swell energy barely cracking 36 (weak) and often sitting in the single digits. That’s just no power. Winds are all over the place too—some glassy mornings, but the swell is too small to care.
We finally see a tiny pulse on Monday the 21st morning. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the SE with an 8-second period, and the combined energy hits 100 (moderate). Winds are glassy out of the NW at 6 mph. It’s the best we’ve got, but it’s still described as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” Don’t get excited. That same afternoon, the onshore kicks in and ruins it.
After that, it’s back to tiny stuff through to the 26th. Swell direction is mostly E or SE, but the period is short (5–9 seconds) and energy is weak. The odd morning might be glassy, but there’s just no push.
Water temp is sitting around 54°F, which is about 2°F colder than normal for this time of year—so a bit nippy, but not crazy.
Honestly, for this stretch, there’s nothing to recommend. The reef setup might see a stray wave on the 21st morning, but that’s it. If you’ve got a kite, the onshore afternoons with a bit of chop might be more your thing than a paddle. Otherwise, save the wax.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | E 8 | E 13 | SE 8 | SE 7 | E 12 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ENE 4 | E 9 | SE 7 | E 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | E 12 | NE 4 | ESE 11 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 21 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 19 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 6 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | cross | cross | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:28PM1.73m | 5:58AM1.65m | 6:20PM1.73m | 6:51AM1.69m | 7:10PM1.72m | 7:40AM1.73m | 7:59PM1.71m | 8:25AM1.75m | 8:47PM1.69m | 9:09AM1.74m | 9:34PM1.66m | 9:53AM1.70m | 10:20PM1.62m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:48PM0.12m | 12:06PM0.11m | 00:40AM0.15m | 12:57PM0.16m | 1:28AM0.20m | 1:47PM0.22m | 2:14AM0.25m | 2:38PM0.27m | 3:00AM0.31m | 3:26PM0.32m | 3:46AM0.37m | 4:14PM0.37m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 5 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | SE 8 | S 13 | SSE 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | E 5 | ENE 5 | SE 8 | E 5 | SE 11 | NNE 4 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 21 | 12 | 3 | 32 | 232 | 20 | 14 | 64 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 13 | ESE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 16 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 11 | S 12 | ENE 4 | ENE 3 | E 9 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | E 12 | SE 10 | E 12 | ESE 11 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 14 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | SE 7 | E 13 | S 20 | S 19 | E 12 | E 9 | E 8 | E 11 | E 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 12 | E 14 | S 15 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SE 5 | — | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | — | — | ENE 5 | — | NE 4 | NNE 4 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | 4 | 4 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 47 | 24 | 95 | 40 | 15 | 17 | 196 | 4 | 24 | 92 | 20 | 20 | 92 | 20 | 20 | 91 | 101 | 34 | 91 | 24 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Hawkes Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Napier - The Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Napier - The Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Napier - The Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Napier - The Reef 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 (Napier - The Reef) 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 Napier - The Reef 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.
Napier - The Reef is 7 km (4 miles) from the city of Napier. If you plan a holiday in Hawkes Bay, look for hotels and other accommodation in Napier. Napier has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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