Surf Forecasts:
Napier - The Reef surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, ESE swell with 170 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Napier - The Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Napier - The Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Napier - The Reef in the next 16 days are 0.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Napier - The Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, the only option we've got on the table for the next 16 days is Napier - The Reef. It's a reef break that's beginner-friendly, but it's also inconsistent – it doesn't get going very often, and this forecast is a prime example of that.
We've got a long stretch of nothing promising. From Sunday the 13th right through until the morning of Friday the 18th, it’s just poor conditions. The water is running a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 54°, so you'll want a good wetsuit.
Even when we get a little life in the water, it's not much to write home about. Friday the 18th is the first time things improve to "surfable but very ordinary." The combined swell energy finally climbs to a moderate 161, from the ESE, pushing in a small 2ft groundswell with a 13-second period – that's a nice, long period that will hold up well on this reef. The morning is glassy with light rain, and by the afternoon it goes cross-offshore with a light breeze. It's not a stand-out, just the best of a quiet run.
That same sort of tiny, ordinary surf hangs around through the weekend, with the energy dropping back to 70 on Saturday morning. There's a pulse of energy on the morning of Sunday the 20th hitting 132, but it's blown straight onshore from the NE, so forget about it.
The next real chance for something a bit better arrives on Wednesday the 23rd. The morning sees a 3ft ESE swell with a 9-second period and the combined energy coming in at a moderate 189. The wind is offshore from the SSW, setting it up clean for the morning. In the afternoon, it gets a little bigger to 3ft with a 10-second period and the energy jumps to 227, but the wind goes crossshore and kicks up a slight chop. For this break, that Wednesday morning is your best bet – it’s the pick of a very quiet bunch. After that, it fades back to complete flatness.
Overall, this is some seriously low-tide surf for the region. Keep an eye on things for the 23rd, and otherwise, maybe find a different hobby for the next couple of weeks.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 7 | SE 7 | E 12 | SE 7 | E 12 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 16 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 27 | 37 | 33 | 29 | 26 | 19 | 28 | 46 | 41 | 62 | 154 | 133 | 93 | 49 | 66 | 40 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 10:40AM1.64m | 11:06PM1.57m | 11:29AM1.58m | 11:50PM1.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:33AM0.40m | 5:00PM0.40m | 5:19AM0.43m | 5:48PM0.42m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | |  | |
 | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 13 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | S 11 | SE 11 | SE 7 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 16 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 18 | 2 | 121 | 21 | 67 | 27 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 26 | 19 | 28 | 46 | 41 | 62 | 154 | 133 | 93 | 49 | 66 | 139 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | S 14 | E 12 | SSE 11 | E 9 | SSE 12 | E 10 | E 9 | SE 9 | ENE 4 | E 12 | — | S 8 | S 16 | ENE 4 | ENE 3 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 24 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 2 | 3 | — | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 14 | 9 | 40 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | S 19 | E 8 | E 9 | E 12 | E 11 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | S 8 | S 15 | S 8 | ESE 9 | S 11 | S 17 | SSW 9 | E 10 | ENE 10 | S 18 |
| kJ | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 3 | NE 4 | — | — | SSE 8 | — |
| kJ | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | — | 113 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 17 | 186 | 4 | 20 | 91 | 17 | 3 | 92 | 3 | 20 | 47 | 20 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
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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