Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, W swell with 3,235 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wharariki Beach in the next 16 days are 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, folks. Rusty here with the look ahead for Wharariki Beach.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but there’s some proper groundswell on the horizon. The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, about 59°F, which is a little on the mild side.
The opening weekend is pretty average. Saturday the 18th is a write-off, with a fresh cross-off breeze messing with a 4 to 5ft W swell. It’s not the day. Sunday the 19th looks better on paper with that 16-second W groundswell and clean conditions in the morning, but with the energy levels, it’s nothing to write home about. Still, a clean 4ft W swell with a slight offshore breeze? That’s the pick of the first few days.
The middle of the week goes flat and weak, with tiny lumps and onshore slop. From Monday the 20th through to Thursday the 24th, it’s mostly small, wind-affected, and not worth paddling out for. There’s a short-period 6ft NW swell on Friday the 24th, but it’s all chop and cross-shore wind – more of a kite session than a paddle session, that one.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday the 25th shows a 7ft W swell, and it’s clean in the morning, but the real standout is Sunday the 26th. That morning, we’ve got a solid 7ft W groundswell – just under that expert-only mark – with a 15-second period. With the SE wind blowing offshore, it’s shaping up to be clean, powerful, and best suited for experienced surfers. It might be a bit much for beginners, but for the crew that can handle it, this is the session to aim for in the first week.
Sunday afternoon and Monday the 27th hold onto that energy, with Monday afternoon looking glassy and clean on a 7ft W swell. That’s a beauty.
After that, the wave size drops fast through the 28th into the 29th, and the energy fades. Thursday the 30th is a little better, with a 5ft W swell, but the wind is up. Friday the 31st looks promising – clean 4ft W swell with a light breeze, a solid option for a fun finish to the month.
The first day of August (Saturday) offers a clean, offshore morning with a tiny 3ft W swell, but that’s about it. Sunday the 2nd has a big 7ft W swell with a strong breeze, but the energy is massive – it’s just likely too blown out for a good paddle.
If you’re chasing the best of the best, make Sunday the 26th your target. That W groundswell with offshore winds is as good as it gets in this run. Be ready for it.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sat morning). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, strong winds from the NW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | NW 7 | N 7 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 736 | 1420 | 3235 | 848 | 1106 | 606 | 489 | 394 | 293 | 219 | 166 | 304 | 47 | 48 | 176 | 284 | 289 | 163 | 255 | 205 | 1122 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:47PM3.19m | 1:08AM3.33m | 1:33PM3.07m | 1:53AM3.14m | 2:19PM2.91m | 2:38AM2.93m | 3:08PM2.75m | 3:27AM2.72m | 4:01PM2.60m | 4:22AM2.55m | 5:00PM2.50m | 5:25AM2.44m | 6:06PM2.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:55PM0.14m | 7:25AM0.16m | 7:41PM0.30m | 8:10AM0.33m | 8:28PM0.50m | 8:57AM0.52m | 9:18PM0.70m | 9:46AM0.70m | 10:13PM0.87m | 10:42AM0.85m | 11:15PM0.99m | 11:45AM0.93m | 00:22AM1.02m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 9 | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 0 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | N 10 | W 5 | W 5 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | N 7 | N 7 |
| kJ | 736 | 1420 | 869 | 848 | 1106 | 606 | 489 | 394 | 293 | 219 | 166 | 17 | 27 | 20 | 176 | 284 | 289 | 163 | 75 | 205 | 33 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | W 7 | WNW 18 | W 7 | N 11 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | N 10 | E 4 | ENE 4 | W 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | W 4 | NE 7 | N 7 | — | WNW 12 | W 8 | W 18 |
| kJ | 537 | 96 | 30 | 128 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 22 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 47 | 48 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 52 | 130 | 221 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | — | N 11 | N 12 | N 11 | NNW 11 | — | W 22 | W 20 | NNW 10 | NNW 11 | W 17 | W 16 | W 15 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | NW 18 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | — | 9 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 22 | 44 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | 82 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 17 | — | SE 2 | E 5 | ESE 6 | E 5 | ESE 5 | — | — | W 12 | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 7 | — | W 10 |
| kJ | 247 | 152 | 3235 | — | 2 | 64 | 122 | 88 | 53 | — | — | 304 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 25 | 255 | — | 1122 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 111 | 152 | 111 | 0 | 111 | 20 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 111 | 111 | 111 | 0 | 20 | 11 | 34 | 34 | 111 | 192 | 95 | 97 |
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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