
Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, W swell with 5,108 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 12s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. 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 3.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) 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 1.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
To be honest, the start of this run is looking pretty average. There’s some swell rolling in, but it’s messy and the winds are all over the shop. The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is about normal for this time of year.
The first few days are a bit of a write-off, to be honest. The wind is cross and lumpy, making for poor surf conditions. You’ll see a bit of swell on Tuesday, around 3ft, but the energy is weak (326) and it’s not worth suiting up for. Wednesday follows a similar pattern – a clean morning with 3ft but not enough push, and then the wind gets fresh and choppy in the arvo. Thursday’s still not your day either. Friday sees the swell start to fill in, but it jumps to 8ft with a fresh cross-off wind. There’s a lot of energy behind it (4689) but it’s big and the wind is strong, so it’s going to be a handful.
The weekend is when it starts to get serious. Saturday the swell is still solid at 8ft, strong energy (3684), and clean conditions. But by the afternoon, it’s jumping to 10ft and the wind is hitting 28 mph. The forecast even says it’s too big for the break. This is expert-only territory. Sunday and Monday keep that sizey, powerful west swell, but the strong winds are going to make it a battle. Tuesday the swell backs off a touch, but it’s still cross and messy.
After that lumpy patch, we get a proper pulse mid-week. On Thursday the 17th, the swell model is showing a serious 12ft of west swell with moderate energy (4463). The wind is offshore in the morning, but the sheer size of it will be pushing the limits for everyone. By the afternoon, it's still 10ft but with a gentle cross-shore, which might make it a touch more manageable but still huge.
The following week starts to clean up a bit. The size eases, but the winds are still fresh and cross-off. The standout is shaping up for Wednesday the 23rd. That morning, a light offshore wind from the south meets a solid 6ft of west swell, with a long 17-second period. That’s clean, powerful, and lined up. The energy is strong (2017) and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is the one to keep an eye on.
So, overall, there are only a couple of true windows. The big, stormy stuff is for experts only, and honestly, it looks more like a kite-surfing day during some of that strong-wind and big-swell combo. The one to really save your energy for is that Wednesday the 23rd morning session at Wharariki Beach – clean, offshore, with some real groundswell in the water. It’s a bit down the track, so don’t hold your breath, but it's the most promising call in the whole run.
Stay stoked.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, strong winds from the W by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Fri night, light winds from the SSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 9 | W 12 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 17 | W 16 | W 19 | W 18 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
129 | 251 | 133 | 149 | 198 | 342 | 195 | 501 | 3390 | 4689 | 5108 | 3992 | 3619 | 4369 | 3301 | 3547 | 3221 | 827 | 817 | 1705 | 1117 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:50PM2.99m | 8:19AM2.95m | 8:43PM3.20m | 9:09AM3.14m | 9:29PM3.37m | 9:52AM3.28m | 10:10PM3.46m | 10:32AM3.35m | 10:49PM3.46m | 11:10AM3.36m | 11:26PM3.39m | 11:46AM3.29m | 00:02AM3.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:32PM0.55m | 2:08AM0.41m | 2:28PM0.34m | 2:59AM0.19m | 3:16PM0.16m | 3:43AM0.03m | 3:59PM0.04m | 4:24AM-0.06m | 4:39PM-0.00m | 5:02AM-0.06m | 5:18PM0.03m | 5:38AM0.02m | 5:55PM0.14m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | W 12 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 19 | W 18 | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | W 16 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 17 | — | W 16 | W 9 | E 4 | N 12 |
129 | 251 | 133 | 149 | 198 | 221 | 195 | 501 | 3390 | 4689 | 180 | 1148 | 3619 | 121 | 132 | 74 | — | 827 | 245 | 1 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | W 19 | — | W 10 | W 20 | ESE 7 | E 5 | — | NW 11 | NW 16 | — | — | — | — | N 13 | W 16 | N 13 | N 12 |
123 | 86 | 58 | 33 | 184 | — | 80 | 396 | 149 | 13 | — | 33 | 65 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 817 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | ENE 4 | W 21 | W 21 | NW 8 | NW 8 | W 14 | NW 6 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 13 | — | — |
74 | 2 | 35 | 75 | 17 | 2 | 93 | 33 | 183 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 3 | ENE 3 | ESE 4 | — | W 11 | WNW 5 | W 7 | — | — | W 18 | W 17 | — | W 16 | W 16 | W 17 | W 16 | W 8 | — | W 16 | W 15 |
— | 2 | 3 | 8 | — | 342 | 46 | 167 | — | — | 5108 | 3992 | — | 4369 | 3301 | 3547 | 3221 | 453 | — | 1705 | 1117 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 98 | 111 | 34 | 11 | 152 | 111 | 192 | 227 | 111 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 95 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 98 | 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.
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.










