Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, W swell with 5,944 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (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 Monday (Aug 24) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 3.0m and 15s is also forecast. 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 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for Wharariki Beach, and honestly, it’s a rough stretch ahead. The first week is a write-off, and the second week is only for the brave. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but don’t get your hopes up too early.
The first real chance to get wet doesn’t arrive until Monday the 24th, and even then, it’s not for the faint-hearted. The swell is pumping from the West with a period of 15 seconds, pushing 10 feet. That’s a proper groundswell, with a combined energy of 7923 (moderate wave energy) – you can feel that power in your chest. The wind is offshore from the WSW, so the face will be clean, but the size is a problem. At 10 feet, this is strictly for experts. Beginners, stay home and watch the show. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
That same energy rolls into the afternoon, still clean and offshore, but still 10 feet. It’s a long-period swell, and at Wharariki, which is an exposed beach break, that long period can make the waves break a bit straight and close out. It’s not ideal, but for the experienced crew, there will be some bombs.
The next standout is Saturday the 29th in the afternoon. The swell jumps to 10 feet from the NW, with a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s a massive groundswell, and the combined energy is a whopping 6745 (strong wave energy). The wind is fresh cross-shore, so it’s lumpy, but the size and period mean the energy is deep. Again, this is a big-wave day. Anything over 8 feet is expert-only, and this is pushing 10 feet. The swell direction is NW, which is the optimum for this spot, but with that period, expect long, waiting sets. It’s a beast.
Sunday the 30th morning offers another look at 12 feet from the WNW, clean with cross-off winds. The combined energy reads 1747 (moderate wave energy). It’s still big, but the wind is better. The period has dropped to 9 seconds, which is a shorter, wind-affected swell, so the shape won’t be as good as the previous day. It’s still a paddle for experts only.
Monday the 31st morning is the last real highlight. 10 feet from the West, 12-second period, and gentle cross-off winds from the SW. The combined energy is 2685 (moderate wave energy). It’s still big, but the wind is weak, so the surface will be glassy. This is probably the most manageable of the big days, but don’t kid yourself – it’s still a solid 10 feet.
After that, the swell stays big but the conditions get messy. Tuesday September 1st morning has 8 feet from the West with a long 17-second period, clean, but the combined energy is 3840 (strong wave energy). It’s a marginal call. The rest of the first week of September is a mix of rain, strong onshore winds, and poor conditions. The swell is too big and the wind is too aggressive.
There’s a gap of almost a full week between the first decent day on the 24th and the next one on the 29th. It’s a long wait for brief windows. The last flicker of hope is Sunday September 6th morning, with 7 feet from the West, a 15-second period, and a gentle cross-shore breeze from the East. Combined energy is 2209 (moderate wave energy). It’s marginal, but it might just be a clean, smaller day for the intermediates if the tide aligns.
Overall, if you’re an expert and you can handle the size, the 24th, 29th, 30th, and 31st are your days. The best of the bunch is probably Monday the 24th – the first day of the run, with offshore winds and a clean, powerful groundswell. For everyone else, this is a time to wax your board and wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the W on Sat morning, gales from the W by Sun morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Tue morning, light winds from the WNW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | NW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | W 15 | W 14 | WNW 8 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
93 | 148 | 577 | 2546 | 3236 | 5295 | 4279 | 3384 | 2512 | 2370 | 2012 | 1674 | 1317 | 1012 | 590 | 488 | 653 | 517 | 146 | 157 | 750 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:24PM2.37m | 5:58AM2.31m | 6:40PM2.42m | 7:09AM2.40m | 7:41PM2.57m | 8:05AM2.55m | 8:29PM2.75m | 8:49AM2.73m | 9:09PM2.94m | 9:28AM2.90m | 9:45PM3.11m | 10:04AM3.05m | 10:20PM3.24m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:00AM1.06m | 11:45PM1.12m | 12:16PM1.05m | 00:58AM1.04m | 1:22PM0.93m | 1:56AM0.88m | 2:13PM0.76m | 2:42AM0.68m | 2:56PM0.57m | 3:22AM0.48m | 3:34PM0.40m | 3:58AM0.30m | 4:10PM0.25m | ||||||||
7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
— | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 6 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 20 | — | N 8 | N 9 | NNW 8 | NW 15 | NNW 7 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | — | — | NW 5 | W 14 | W 13 | W 17 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 |
93 | 31 | — | 317 | 190 | 114 | 229 | 10 | 88 | 45 | — | — | 9 | 1012 | 590 | 94 | 47 | 159 | 146 | 125 | 54 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | — | — | — | — | NW 14 | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | NNW 5 | WNW 17 | — | W 6 | W 18 | W 25 | W 23 |
1 | — | — | — | — | 191 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 20 | 2 | 56 | — | 1 | 6 | 12 | 43 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | NW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | — | — | W 13 | W 13 | W 15 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 8 |
21 | 148 | 577 | 2546 | 3236 | 5295 | 4279 | 3384 | 2512 | 2370 | 2012 | 1674 | 1317 | — | — | 488 | 653 | 517 | 55 | 157 | 750 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 111 | 152 | 97 | 215 | 196 | 215 | 97 | 152 | 196 | 196 | 198 | 95 | 111 | 111 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 111 | 34 | 211 | 192 |
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.











