Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, W swell with 5,333 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Wharariki Beach this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Wharariki Beach in the next 16 days are 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you, the outlook for Wharariki Beach is a bit of a wild ride. We’ve got a lot of energy coming through, but the wind is going to be our biggest enemy. Let’s break it down.
We start off on Thursday, August 27th, with a bit of a whimper. Rain showers and a stiff cross-shore wind from the east at 22 mph are making a mess of the 4ft WNW swell. The combined energy is there (531), but it’s not pretty. The afternoon cleans up a little with a lighter cross-offshore breeze, but it’s still just a marginal call.
The weekend is a write-off for clean surfing. Friday, August 28th, sees a big jump in swell, hitting 13ft, but it’s accompanied by a near gale-force onshore wind. That’s a no-go. Saturday and Sunday follow the same pattern: big, powerful swell but with fresh to strong winds that will turn it into a washing machine. The water temperature is about average for this time of year here.
We get a bit of a reprieve on Monday, September 7th. The morning brings a clean 6ft groundswell from the west with a very long 16-second period, and a light breeze. The energy is pumping (1791), and conditions are clean. This is a serious window for experienced surfers who can handle the long-period lines. The swell direction from the west is a solid match for the break. But be warned, the afternoon gets messy again with a bigger swell and fresh wind.
The real standout, though, is Tuesday, September 8th. We’re looking at a solid 10ft groundswell from the west with that same long 15-second period, but the key is the wind: a light offshore breeze from the SSW in the morning. It’s shaping up for excellent conditions for expert surfers, with a massive 4618 combined energy. It’s a big, powerful groundswell, so this is for the experienced crew only. The afternoon still looks clean, but the wind swings around.
The following week, from September 9th, there’s more swell, but the wind is back up, making it tricky. The 10th of September offers another chance in the morning with a big 10ft swell and clean cross-offshore breeze, but it's another one for experts only.
Overall, the best bet is to keep your eyes on the morning of Monday the 7th and especially Tuesday the 8th of September. Those are the windows where the power of the ocean meets clean conditions. The rest of the time, it’s a battle with the wind.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed night, min 11°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Thu afternoon, near gales from the NNW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat night, near gales from the WSW by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 12 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 245 | 322 | 289 | 869 | 3060 | 2247 | 654 | 730 | 472 | 332 | 675 | 2019 | 4310 | 4915 | 5333 | 3178 | 1793 | 2293 | 2137 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:09PM2.94m | 9:28AM2.90m | 9:45PM3.11m | 10:04AM3.05m | 10:20PM3.24m | 10:38AM3.16m | 10:54PM3.33m | 11:13AM3.23m | 11:28PM3.36m | 11:49AM3.25m | 00:04AM3.32m | 12:26PM3.21m | 00:43AM3.23m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:22AM0.48m | 3:34PM0.40m | 3:58AM0.30m | 4:10PM0.25m | 4:33AM0.16m | 4:45PM0.16m | 5:07AM0.07m | 5:20PM0.12m | 5:42AM0.05m | 5:57PM0.14m | 6:19AM0.09m | 6:36PM0.21m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — |
mm | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 15 | W 14 | NNW 10 | NNE 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | W 18 | NNW 8 | N 8 | NW 12 | NW 15 | — | W 15 | W 14 | WNW 14 | NW 6 |
| kJ | 222 | 322 | 289 | 72 | 102 | 2247 | 86 | 181 | 87 | 332 | 12 | 1 | 184 | 220 | — | 871 | 1793 | 41 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 19 | W 13 | W 12 | W 16 | — | W 14 | W 13 | W 21 | WNW 20 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 15 | E 4 | E 3 | WNW 15 |
| kJ | 7 | 155 | 75 | 5 | — | 91 | 85 | 78 | 133 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | 43 | 10 | 1 | 22 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 18 | ESE 4 | — | — | W 23 | W 22 | W 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 24 | — | NW 19 |
| kJ | — | 54 | 11 | — | — | 11 | 38 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 15 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | — | E 4 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | — | NW 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 12 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | — | W 14 | W 14 |
| kJ | 245 | — | 13 | 869 | 3060 | — | 654 | 730 | 472 | 323 | 675 | 2019 | 4310 | 4915 | 5333 | 3178 | — | 2293 | 2137 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 119 | 111 | 11 | 111 | 260 | 215 | 86 | 95 | 119 | 97 | 99 | 196 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 111 |
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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