Surf Forecasts:
Tuhawaiki Point surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 24s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 23s period, SSE swell with 859 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 24s period with SSE 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 24s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tuhawaiki Point in the next 16 days are 0.9m 23s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 24s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 24s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 23s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tuhawaiki Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a window of proper, clean swell. Tuhawaiki Point is the only spot on the radar, and it’s gonna be a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some gems in there if you’re an experienced hand.
The standout period kicks off on Saturday, July 18th. Tuhawaiki Point is serving up a solid groundswell from the SSE. It’s packing some serious energy (1168) with a 3-foot wave face, and those 23-second intervals are just pure, raw power. The wind is a light cross-off, keeping things clean. This is prime for the advanced crew. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
Sunday the 19th is a tease. The early morning is glassy with a 2-foot SSE swell, but the energy drops off a cliff (397). It’s a bit of a letdown after Saturday. The afternoon turns into a chop-fest, so don’t bother.
The next real standout comes on Monday the 20th. The morning session is your best bet. A nice 4-foot SE swell with a 19-second period has a ton of energy (876), and a light WNW cross-off breeze will have it looking clean. This is the pick of the week for experienced surfers.
After that, the energy fades quickly. Tuesday the 21st is small and weak, and from Wednesday the 22nd right through to Friday the 24th, it’s flat city. A few days of nothing but wind chop.
Then, after a full week of doldrums, we get a flicker of hope on Sunday, July 26th. There’s a 3-foot SSE groundswell with a 16-second period showing up with some decent energy (567), but the wind is a fresh breeze. It’s clean, but it’s a battle to get into. Only for the fully committed.
The window closes again, with small, ordinary waves until the very end of the forecast. Tuesday, July 28th sees a brief bump of 4-foot swell from the south, but it’s a short-period, messy windswell (162) with poor conditions. Not worth a paddle.
The last flicker of hope is way out on Wednesday, July 29th. A 2-foot SE swell with a light offshore wind, but it’s weak and unremarkable. The week after that, it’s a mix of small, clean but barely surfable slop.
So, the call is simple: if you’re experienced and you want power, you’re looking at the Saturday morning (July 18) and the Monday morning (July 20) at Tuhawaiki Point. Those are the only two real standouts. Everything else is a gamble on tiny, weak waves. It’s a pretty lean run overall, but those two sessions are worth the wait.
Stay frosty.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSE 23 | SSE 23 | ESE 14 | SSE 15 | ESE 13 | SSE 17 | SE 19 | SSE 18 | SE 15 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | S 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 331 | 859 | 680 | 210 | 201 | 135 | 377 | 819 | 541 | 220 | 106 | 68 | 30 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 62 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 6:19AM2.33m | 6:59PM2.37m | 7:20AM2.23m | 7:53PM2.23m | 8:18AM2.14m | 8:48PM2.10m | 9:17AM2.07m | 9:47PM2.01m | 10:14AM2.04m | 10:46PM1.98m | 11:05AM2.03m | 11:41PM2.01m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:53PM0.63m | 12:31PM0.46m | 00:49AM0.64m | 1:28PM0.53m | 1:47AM0.65m | 2:22PM0.61m | 2:47AM0.67m | 3:18PM0.68m | 3:48AM0.69m | 4:19PM0.71m | 4:44AM0.73m | 5:20PM0.69m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | |
 | — | 8:03 | — | — | 8:03 | — | — | 8:03 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 15 | SSE 23 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 17 | SE 19 | SSE 18 | SE 15 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 331 | 859 | 289 | 210 | 156 | 135 | 377 | 819 | 541 | 220 | 106 | 68 | 30 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | ESE 15 | SSE 23 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 13 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 5 |
| kJ | 98 | 309 | 680 | 149 | 201 | 23 | 87 | 57 | 56 | 46 | 26 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 24 | — | SSE 16 | SE 21 | SSE 20 | SSE 15 | ESE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | E 5 | — | S 13 | E 10 | SE 8 | E 12 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 45 | — | 354 | 115 | 40 | 88 | 193 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 15 | — | — | — | — | NNE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | S 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1104 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 62 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 137 | 87 | 112 | 108 | 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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