
Surf Forecasts:
Tuhawaiki Point surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSE swell with 674 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tuhawaiki Point this week:
The surf forecast for Tuhawaiki Point over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tuhawaiki Point in the next 16 days are 1.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 15s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tuhawaiki Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks aren’t exactly firing for Tuhawaiki Point. It’s a classic point break that’s inconsistent and needs the right direction, and we’re looking at a long stretch of very ordinary conditions. The water’s sitting at 51°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your arse off.
We start off on Thursday, 10th September with a tiny 2ft east swell, period a short 8 seconds, and the combined energy is weak (80). The wind is a cross-off from the SW, but it’s light rain, and the waves are just surfable – nothing to write home about. That afternoon turns to poor, with a 1ft SSE swell and onshore wind. Friday morning is similar, with a 1ft SSE swell and a bit more energy (129), but still just ordinary. The whole weekend is a write-off, with Saturday morning seeing a 4ft SSE swell and a decent 16-second period, giving us moderate energy (678), but the wind is cross-shore and the score is marginal. Saturday afternoon? Onshore wind and poor. It’s a tough run.
The only real standout in this whole period is Saturday, 19th September. That afternoon, we’ve got a 2ft SSE swell, long 16-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (309). The wind is a clean cross-off from the WSW, and the conditions are expected to be good. It’s the only session in the whole outlook that scores a decent rating. Keep Saturday afternoon in mind, but remember this break is inconsistent, so don’t get your hopes too high.
The rest of the second week is a mix of small swells and poor conditions. Sunday, 20th September, has a 3ft SSE swell with a 12-second period (energy 291), but the wind is cross-shore and it’s only marginal. The following week is mostly small waves under 3ft, with onshore winds or cross-off that keeps it clean but tiny. There’s a gap of several days from the 21st to the 24th where there’s really nothing worth paddling out for. The only glimmer at the very end is Friday, 25th September, with a 2ft ESE swell, 12-second period, and glassy conditions in the morning – that looks clean but small.
So, if you’re keen, mark Saturday, 19th September afternoon. Otherwise, it’s a long wait for some proper energy. The forecast can change, but for now, it’s pretty slim pickings.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Fri morning, min 3°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 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) | E 8 | SSE 19 | SE 18 | SE 18 | SE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SE 16 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | E 11 | SE 4 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
32 | 72 | 82 | 78 | 74 | 173 | 666 | 587 | 144 | 140 | 121 | 121 | 71 | 46 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 39 | 20 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:32PM2.43m | 2:42AM2.44m | 3:26PM2.37m | 3:36AM2.41m | 4:12PM2.26m | 4:30AM2.36m | 4:52PM2.13m | 5:19AM2.31m | 5:30PM2.03m | 6:05AM2.24m | 6:13PM1.98m | 6:51AM2.16m | 7:08PM1.98m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:24PM0.51m | 8:59AM0.43m | 9:15PM0.53m | 9:55AM0.43m | 10:05PM0.54m | 10:49AM0.47m | 10:52PM0.55m | 11:38AM0.54m | 11:37PM0.58m | 12:20PM0.61m | 00:24AM0.65m | 1:01PM0.67m | 1:15AM0.74m | ||||||||
6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 7 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | E 8 | SSE 4 | SE 18 | SE 17 | SSE 7 | SSE 16 | SE 16 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 |
24 | 20 | 8 | 78 | 74 | 43 | 666 | 587 | 144 | 140 | 121 | 121 | 71 | 46 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 39 | 20 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SSE 19 | SE 18 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 16 | E 8 | E 13 | SSE 16 | SE 16 | SSE 16 | S 16 | SSE 15 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 14 | ENE 4 | SSE 14 | — | E 14 |
32 | 72 | 82 | 5 | 5 | 173 | 1 | 3 | 104 | 65 | 26 | 5 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 18 | — | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | E 16 | E 8 | SSE 4 | — | E 8 | E 13 | E 13 | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | — | — | — | E 11 | E 11 | SSE 5 | E 4 | E 9 | — |
24 | 5 | 10 | 2 | — | 5 | 3 | 14 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SSE 5 | — | — | — | — | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | — | NNE 2 | — | WNW 2 | W 3 | S 5 |
104 | 20 | — | — | — | — | 1452 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 141 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 112 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 137 | 87 | 87 | 164 | 166 | 87 | 139 | 87 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Tuhawaiki Point Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tuhawaiki Point provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tuhawaiki Point can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tuhawaiki Point 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 (Tuhawaiki Point) 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 Tuhawaiki Point 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.
Tuhawaiki Point is 5 km (3 miles) from the city of Timaru. If you plan a holiday in Canterbury, look for hotels and other accommodation in Timaru. Timaru has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










