Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, W swell with 2,502 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period with W 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wharariki Beach in the next 16 days are 2.3m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s break down Wharariki Beach.
It’s been flat, but we’ve got some decent pulses coming through. Friday the 10th morning is small with a 4ft west swell and cross-offshore wind, water temp is 59°, a touch warmer than usual. The energy is moderate. The afternoon cleans right up – still around 4ft, but with a 16-second period and glassy conditions. That’s your first real window.
Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th stay steady with 3ft to 4ft west swell and long periods. The wind is light cross or glassy, so the shape will be there.
Monday the 13th is a washout – strong onshore winds and a tiny 2ft wave. Tuesday the 14th picks up to 5ft but it’s cross-shore and lumpy. Skip it.
Wednesday the 15th bring a jump to 5ft in the morning, then 8ft in the afternoon from the west, with 15-16 second periods and strong energy. But the wind is cross-onshore and the chop is nasty. That afternoon size is for experts only and the conditions are messy – better for the kite surfers.
The standout is Thursday the 16th. The morning delivers a 5ft west swell, 16-second period, with light cross-offshore wind and clean conditions. The energy is strong. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon stays clean but the wind picks up. That morning session is the best in the whole forecast.
After that, it fades. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th have small 3ft to 4ft waves, clean but weak.
Then another pulse comes Sunday the 19th. We get a 6ft north-northwest swell in the morning, building to 7ft from the north by afternoon, with 10-11 second periods. Cross-offshore wind and clean. Good for intermediates and up. Monday the 20th keeps it going with a 8ft north swell in the morning – that’s big, experts only – then it drops off.
From Tuesday the 21st onward, it’s flat and weak, with waves under 2ft and no energy. The last week is nothing but small, onshore junk.
So, bottom line: Thursday morning the 16th is your winner – 5ft, clean, west groundswell with light offshore wind. Sunday the 19th is a solid second option.
Wharariki is a consistent spot, so it won’t stay poor for long.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the N on Mon night, calm by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 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) | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 18 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 851 | 605 | 396 | 389 | 636 | 732 | 592 | 441 | 271 | 146 | 151 | 1446 | 277 | 276 | 637 | 1339 | 2502 | 1676 | 1211 | 1006 | 706 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:57PM2.78m | 6:24AM2.82m | 7:04PM2.90m | 7:32AM2.92m | 8:08PM3.06m | 8:35AM3.05m | 9:06PM3.24m | 9:32AM3.17m | 9:59PM3.40m | 10:24AM3.27m | 10:49PM3.49m | 11:14AM3.30m | 11:37PM3.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:39AM0.57m | 00:13AM0.67m | 12:46PM0.51m | 1:21AM0.55m | 1:50PM0.40m | 2:25AM0.38m | 2:49PM0.26m | 3:23AM0.21m | 3:44PM0.12m | 4:16AM0.07m | 4:35PM0.02m | 5:06AM-0.01m | 5:23PM-0.01m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 3 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 18 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | NW 8 | N 8 | WNW 11 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 |
| kJ | 851 | 605 | 396 | 389 | 636 | 732 | 592 | 441 | 271 | 146 | 97 | 61 | 277 | 217 | 637 | 1339 | 2502 | 1676 | 1211 | 1006 | 706 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 5 | E 5 | W 14 | E 4 | — | NE 12 | N 12 | NE 11 | N 11 | N 11 | W 23 | NNE 8 | WNW 13 | N 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 16 | NW 15 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | E 5 |
| kJ | — | 20 | 7 | 192 | 1 | — | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 207 | 59 | 52 | 427 | 94 | 58 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 20 | W 15 | — | — | — | — | N 14 | N 13 | N 13 | — | W 13 | W 18 | W 17 | N 10 | NW 9 | — | — | — | NW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 124 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 54 | 58 | 211 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | — | — | E 4 | — | E 4 | — | — | — | N 4 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | — | WNW 10 | — | — | — | — | E 6 | ESE 6 | E 5 |
| kJ | 48 | — | — | 5 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 16 | 151 | 1446 | — | 276 | — | — | — | — | 144 | 198 | 53 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 111 | 111 | 97 | 111 | 93 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 163 | 4 | 0 | 98 | 0 |
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.
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