Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NW swell with 2,156 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period with NW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Wharariki Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 18s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wharariki Beach in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here again. Let's break down the same stretch for Wharariki Beach, but this time in feet and miles per hour.
We start off with a flat, ugly spell. Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th are just grim – lumpy, choppy, cross-onshore wind with hardly any rideable energy. Water temp is about 57°F, which is dead average for this time of year.
Sunday the 9th brings a massive pulse – a 13ft WNW swell with a combined energy of 3088 (moderate energy). That’s a monster, and it’s too big for this break. It’s expert-only stuff, even with a clean cross-shore. The afternoon drops to 7ft, but it’s still messy.
The real standout, the day you’ve been waiting for, is Saturday the 15th afternoon. The wind dies to glassy, and we’ve got a beautiful 7ft WNW groundswell with a very long period of 16 seconds (energy 2248). This is a proper, powerful groundswell that’ll wrap in and create some beautiful lines. The long period means it’ll run straight on the beach, so look for the rip bowls. Sunday the 16th morning is also clean with a 5ft, 18-second swell (energy 2391), but the afternoon gets too big and blown out.
Monday the 18th is another solid day. The morning has a clean 7ft, 14-second swell (energy 1710) with a gentle offshore, and the afternoon turns glassy with a 7ft, 13-second swell (energy 1497). That’s a great day for experienced surfers, but it’s still on the bigger side.
After that, things drop off. The 19th and 20th have smaller, cleaner waves in the 3ft to 5ft range – perfect for a longboard. The 21st and 22nd finish with tiny, clean, glassy conditions: 2ft to 3ft with a 14-15 second period. A beautiful, mellow end to the forecast.
Your best bet: Saturday the 15th afternoon. It’s gonna be magic. The Saturday the 18th afternoon is a very close second if you like it glassy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri night, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NNW on Sat morning, strong winds from the NW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 74mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 13 | W 19 | W 18 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 537 | 284 | 341 | 481 | 2088 | 636 | 249 | 387 | 1074 | 253 | 167 | 260 | 219 | 371 | 494 | 392 | 302 | 325 | 354 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:50AM2.68m | 5:35PM2.70m | 6:09AM2.68m | 6:51PM2.81m | 7:24AM2.80m | 7:59PM3.00m | 8:28AM2.97m | 8:56PM3.22m | 9:23AM3.14m | 9:47PM3.40m | 10:11AM3.27m | 10:32PM3.51m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:37PM0.77m | 11:14AM0.70m | 11:56PM0.76m | 12:31PM0.65m | 1:12AM0.63m | 1:40PM0.51m | 2:17AM0.43m | 2:40PM0.32m | 3:13AM0.21m | 3:32PM0.14m | 4:03AM0.04m | 4:19PM0.01m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | |  | |
 | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — |
mm | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 28 | 25 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | W 18 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | W 16 | NNW 8 | W 14 | W 13 | W 19 | W 18 | W 16 | N 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNE 6 |
| kJ | 13 | 284 | 341 | 481 | 159 | 636 | 249 | 387 | 67 | 253 | 167 | 260 | 219 | 129 | 494 | 175 | 302 | 325 | 95 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 19 | W 19 | W 18 | W 18 | — | W 14 | W 16 | NNW 8 | N 12 | W 6 | N 8 | W 13 | N 7 | WNW 13 | W 16 | W 14 | NNE 6 | W 19 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 7 | 64 | 99 | 315 | — | 144 | 249 | 92 | 3 | 38 | 29 | 86 | 9 | 18 | 122 | 63 | 85 | 255 | 235 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | W 12 | W 12 | — | — | W 18 | W 13 | — | — | N 8 | W 7 | NNW 7 | W 6 | N 13 | WNW 12 | W 19 | W 17 | W 16 | W 17 |
| kJ | 2 | 12 | 11 | — | — | 155 | 54 | — | — | 31 | 14 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 56 | 64 | 211 | 5 | 354 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | — | — | NE 6 | NW 10 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 15 | E 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | N 4 | N 7 | — | N 7 | — | N 6 | — |
| kJ | 537 | — | — | 245 | 2088 | 401 | 186 | 127 | 1074 | 2 | 25 | 5 | 19 | 371 | — | 392 | — | 62 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 111 | 152 | 98 | 152 | 111 | 192 | 86 | 93 | 95 | 111 | 11 | 20 | 152 | 111 | 7 | 34 | 0 | 20 | 11 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - West Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Wharariki Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Wharariki Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Wharariki Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Wharariki Beach 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 (Wharariki Beach) 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 Wharariki Beach 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Nelson - West Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Wharariki Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nelson - West Coast, consider staying in Nelson which is 100 km (62 miles) away.
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