Surf Forecasts:
Tuhawaiki Point surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SE swell with 834 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with E 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tuhawaiki Point in the next 16 days are 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tuhawaiki Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s on the cards for Tuhawaiki Point over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a little pulse of swell rolling in from the ENE on Wednesday the 12th, around 6ft, but the wind is all wrong – a nasty cross-shore, then cross-on – and the period is a short, weak 7-8 seconds. The water is sitting at 49°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Don’t expect much; it’s a messy, marginal affair with combined wave energy at a moderate 391 and 543 (Wednesday afternoon). Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are even smaller, with a slight clean-up on the Friday morning – that glassy WNW wind and a tiny 2ft swell from the east is about as flat as it gets, though. Honestly, the weekend (15th & 16th) is a total bust with strong onshore winds and tiny, chopped-up waves.
Now, you’ve got to be patient. There’s a gap of a few days of nothing, but the real standout hits us on Tuesday the 18th. This is the one to circle. The morning starts with a building 3ft SSE groundswell, but it’s the afternoon that’s the ticket. Clean, glassy conditions, a 4ft SE swell with a nice 16-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 800. That’s proper groundswell, and for a point break like Tuhawaiki Point, that long period is going to peel off beautifully. The wind is dead calm, glassy as anything. This is expert territory given the size, but the quality is top-notch.
Wednesday the 19th morning is also a looker – glassy again, 3ft from the SSE at 13 seconds. The energy is still solid at 334, but the wind shifts in the afternoon, so surf the morning. After that, the swell drops off fast. Thursday the 20th is surfable but ordinary, and then from Friday the 21st right through to the end of the period on the 27th, it’s a long, flat stretch. Tiny waves, poor conditions, and no real energy to speak of. The very end of the period on the 25th and 26th sees a little bump in period from the ESE, but the height is 1-2ft and the wind is messy, so it’s a pass.
So, the clear winner is Tuesday afternoon the 18th. Get on it. The Wednesday morning the 19th is a solid backup. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 4°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat morning, calm by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | ESE 15 | SSE 8 | SSE 16 | SE 16 | SE 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 293 | 395 | 188 | 129 | 93 | 63 | 42 | 29 | 41 | 25 | 81 | 32 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 41 | 21 | 26 | 310 | 767 | 610 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:52PM2.50m | 2:52AM2.52m | 3:52PM2.50m | 3:49AM2.46m | 4:45PM2.44m | 4:53AM2.38m | 5:34PM2.31m | 5:53AM2.30m | 6:23PM2.16m | 6:48AM2.22m | 7:14PM2.03m | 7:41AM2.14m | 8:11PM1.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:44PM0.56m | 9:16AM0.43m | 9:38PM0.58m | 10:12AM0.40m | 10:34PM0.59m | 11:11AM0.42m | 11:27PM0.59m | 12:08PM0.48m | 00:17AM0.60m | 12:59PM0.56m | 1:07AM0.64m | 1:47PM0.64m | 2:01AM0.70m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — |
 | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:51 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 5 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 16 | SE 16 | SE 16 |
| kJ | 93 | 141 | 188 | 129 | 93 | 63 | 42 | 29 | 41 | 25 | 15 | 32 | 21 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 26 | 310 | 767 | 610 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 9 | SE 15 | ESE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | ESE 13 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 5 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 19 | 29 | 25 | 17 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 45 | 41 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 33 | 28 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 15 | S 17 | S 16 | S 17 | SE 16 | S 15 | S 16 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | SE 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 15 | E 9 | SE 13 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 6 | 27 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | SSW 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 293 | 395 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 81 | 109 | 132 | — | — | — | — | 257 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 223 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 0 | 141 | 141 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.
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