
Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, W swell with 6,249 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s 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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 15s. 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 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for Wharariki Beach. It’s a proper exposed spot, wide open to the northwest, so when the swell lines up, it can be a sight to behold. But the next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, with some real potential and some proper blowouts, so you’ll need to pick your moments.
The first few days are a write-off, to be honest. Friday the 24th is a mess – that 10-foot swell from the northwest, but it’s got a short 8-second period and a screaming 28 mph NNW wind making it cross-on. It’s all just lumpy, onshore slop. The combined energy is high (1125), but it’s all wind and no form. Friday afternoon is a bit smaller at 8 feet but still messy. Saturday the 25th is a no-go as well, with a 12 to 13-foot swell from the west, but a near gale-force 34 mph SW wind is making it clean? Well, the conditions are clean in the sense of no rain, but the wind is so strong it’s just a howling, blown-out mess. Too big and too windy for any sane paddle.
Things start to look up on Sunday the 26th. The swell drops to 6 feet, still from the west, with a lovely 14-second period – proper groundswell. The wind is a light SE cross-off at 15 mph, and the combined energy is still chunky at 1578. It’s rated as marginal, but that’s a lot better than the past few days. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no shock to the system. This is where it gets interesting. By Sunday afternoon, the wind drops right off to a 3 mph easterly, near glassy. The swell is 5 feet at 14 seconds. This is your first real chance. The sets will be lined up, but with that long period and an exposed beach break, expect them to close out in sections. It’s a Sunday session, so expect a few others out, but it’ll be worth it for the clean lines.
Monday the 27th morning is a standout. A 5-foot west swell, 13-second period, and a light SSW cross-off at 6 mph. Clean surfing. The combined energy is 737, which is a solid, workable amount of power. This is a good window for intermediate surfers. The afternoon gets a bit weaker as the wind picks up to 12 mph, but still clean.
Tuesday the 28th morning is about as good as it gets for a clean, small day. 3 feet of west swell, 11 seconds, with a 3 mph SSE offshore wind. That’s glassy perfection. The combined energy is low (245), but the shape will be there on the sets. It’s a classic for a fun mid-morning paddle. The afternoon turns into a bit of a dud with a short 5-second period, so don’t bother.
The middle of the week (Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th) is a bit of a mess again. The wind is up and cross-shore, ruining the shape, even though Thursday shows a massive 16-second period swell and very high energy (2472 and 5167). The swell is 7 to 8 feet – that’s getting into expert-only territory, and with 28 mph winds, it’s just a washing machine. Only for the hardcore.
The real gem in this whole outlook is a long way off, so mark your calendars. Wednesday the 5th of August. Both morning and afternoon are exceptional. The morning sees a 5-foot swell from the west, 17-second period, with a light 6 mph offshore wind from the south. The afternoon goes even better: 6 feet of west swell, 15-second period, and a 3 mph northeast wind that turns it glassy. The combined energy is 1576 and 1581 – solid, powerful, and clean. The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers, and that’s bang on. The direction is a perfect west swell for this exposed west-facing beach. It’s a long way out, so the forecast might shift, but if it holds, that is the day to pull a sickie. Crowds are possible, but with that level of quality, you’ll be sharing the peak with a few other keen locals.
The days around it are a bit of a gamble. Thursday the 6th has a clean window in the afternoon with a light SSW wind, but it’s a bit smaller. The following weekend (8th and 9th) looks smaller and more onshore again.
So, to sum it up: the first few days are a bust. The best bets are Sunday the 26th afternoon and Monday the 27th morning for a clean, fun session. The absolute standout, the one you want to save your energy for, is Wednesday the 5th of August. That’s the one with the glassy conditions and quality west swell. Keep an eye on that.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu night, min 8°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Sat morning, calm by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, strong winds from the WNW by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | NW 8 | NW 8 | W 17 | W 10 | W 14 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 5 | W 10 | W 11 | W 14 | WNW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
119 | 1125 | 919 | 464 | 2170 | 6249 | 3185 | 1525 | 1057 | 1034 | 713 | 511 | 327 | 240 | 136 | 106 | 233 | 714 | 2500 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:25AM2.44m | 6:06PM2.47m | 6:32AM2.42m | 7:10PM2.52m | 7:34AM2.48m | 8:05PM2.63m | 8:26AM2.59m | 8:53PM2.77m | 9:12AM2.72m | 9:35PM2.91m | 9:52AM2.85m | 10:13PM3.04m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:15PM0.99m | 11:45AM0.93m | 00:22AM1.02m | 12:49PM0.93m | 1:25AM0.96m | 1:47PM0.85m | 2:19AM0.85m | 2:37PM0.73m | 3:06AM0.70m | 3:20PM0.59m | 3:47AM0.56m | 4:00PM0.45m | |||||||
— | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | 6 | 7 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | -2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | — | W 13 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 14 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 12 | W 12 | W 11 | NW 11 | W 6 | W 14 | W 20 | — |
117 | — | 79 | 427 | 68 | 466 | 3185 | 1525 | 1057 | 1034 | 713 | 511 | 327 | 240 | 5 | 44 | 102 | 68 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 19 | W 17 | N 10 | N 9 | E 4 | NW 14 | E 4 | — | NW 12 | WNW 12 | W 18 | W 16 | — | W 10 | NW 11 | — | — |
— | — | 28 | 464 | 48 | 24 | 2 | 53 | 8 | — | 24 | 14 | 6 | 5 | — | 106 | 5 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 12 | WNW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 11 | W 15 | — | — |
— | — | — | 69 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | W 10 | W 14 | — | E 4 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | W 11 | W 14 | WNW 17 |
119 | 1125 | 919 | — | 2170 | 6249 | — | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 136 | — | 233 | 714 | 2500 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 466 | 97 | 192 | 97 | 97 | 235 | 95 | 11 | 11 | 98 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 111 | 111 | 211 | 152 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - West Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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