Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, W swell with 3,222 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 with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s. 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 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 09) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
Howdy, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Wharariki Beach for the next couple weeks. The water’s sitting at 59°, running a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice little treat.
First real waves pop up Wednesday morning, July 8th. We’re looking at a 0.3 feet west swell with a 14-second period – proper groundswell. The wind is glassy out of the WNW at 3 mph, flat calm. Combined energy is 217 (moderate), nothing huge, but it’s clean and surfable. Good intermediate fun.
Thursday morning, July 9th, the swell jumps to 1.0 feet from the west, with a long 16-second period. Combined energy hits 1308 (strong). Wind is SE at 12 mph, cross-off, so the waves will be clean. Size is getting into the zone where beginners might find it a handful – stick to it if you’ve got some experience.
Saturday morning, July 11th, is a standout. Swell drops to 0.5 feet from the west, but the period is a very long 18 seconds. Combined energy is 585 (moderate). Wind is SE at 6 mph, cross-off, so glassy clean. That long period will give the waves good shape and power for their size, and the long lulls make getting out easier. A gem of a session.
Now for the big one – Wednesday, July 15th. The morning brings 2 feet from the west with a 16-second period, and combined energy is 2994 (very strong). Wind is WSW at 12 mph, cross-off, clean. The afternoon is even better: 1 feet, still from the west, 16-second period, and the wind goes glassy out of the SE at 3 mph. Combined energy is 2426 (very strong). That’s expert territory – over 2 feet can be too much for beginners, and this sits right near that mark. The glassy afternoon session is the best of the whole forecast.
After that, it’s a long dry spell. From Saturday, July 18th onward, it’s mostly onshore winds and short-period slop. Tuesday, July 21st has a glassy 0.3 feet west swell in the morning with a 9-second period, but combined energy is only 155 (weak). That’s about it for the rest of the window.
This spot can get packed, so for those clean standout mornings, expect company in the water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Wed night, light winds from the ESE by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the N by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | W 16 | W 16 | W 14 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 18 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | N 7 | NW 8 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 12 | W 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 206 | 1134 | 1226 | 701 | 628 | 851 | 605 | 391 | 389 | 636 | 723 | 489 | 441 | 271 | 148 | 537 | 437 | 254 | 339 | 794 | 2490 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:10AM2.80m | 4:50PM2.73m | 5:15AM2.78m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:59PM0.70m | 10:34AM0.58m | 11:04PM0.71m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 |
 | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | 5:21 |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | E 8 | W 16 | W 14 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 18 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | NW 8 | N 7 | N 7 | WNW 12 | W 17 |
| kJ | 206 | 272 | 1226 | 701 | 628 | 851 | 605 | 391 | 389 | 636 | 723 | 489 | 441 | 271 | 148 | 62 | 437 | 76 | 61 | 794 | 2490 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | W 16 | ESE 8 | W 20 | W 14 | — | WNW 16 | E 5 | W 14 | E 4 | — | N 12 | N 12 | N 11 | WNW 7 | — | NNE 7 | NW 8 | W 19 | N 7 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 14 | 1134 | 251 | 271 | 320 | — | 25 | 19 | 192 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | — | 73 | 28 | 64 | 39 | 26 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 18 | — | W 22 | NW 20 | E 7 | — | — | W 20 | W 15 | — | — | — | — | N 14 | N 13 | — | W 14 | W 13 | NW 11 | W 18 | N 10 |
| kJ | 104 | — | 82 | 15 | 1 | — | — | 124 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | 62 | 55 | 5 | 162 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | E 5 | — | E 4 | — | E 12 | — | — | N 4 | N 5 | N 7 | — | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 4 | WNW 17 |
| kJ | 33 | 447 | 432 | 169 | 152 | 52 | 21 | — | 5 | — | 3 | — | — | 7 | 34 | 537 | — | 254 | 339 | 14 | 1945 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 11 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 111 | 111 | 34 | 34 | 97 | 95 |
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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