Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, W swell with 3,616 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 3PM. 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+) | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Gather ‘round, crew. Rusty here, and I’ve got the goods on the local stretch for the next couple of weeks. It’s a tale of two halves, with a whole lot of waiting for the ocean to play nice.
Right now, the pattern is rough. We’re looking at a massive, powerful West swell that’s just too much for our shores. The energy is massive (4536), with a 10 ft swell from the west, but the wind is howling from the WSW at 25 mph. It’s cross-off, which keeps the surface clean, but the size is just plain dangerous for most. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Monday morning (24th August) is a no-go. The swell is too big, full stop. That same energy hangs around through Monday, and the wind kicks up even more. Tuesday and Wednesday are just as messy, with strong cross-shore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell drops a bit, but the wind keeps it ugly. Thursday brings a shift in wind, but it’s onshore and rainy, with a short-period 4 ft swell that’s just junk. Friday is a write-off, with a massive 13 ft swell from the NNW and howling onshore winds. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. The weekend is a bit cleaner, but the wind is still a strong breeze, and the swell is mixed up.
There’s a real gap here. From Monday 24th all the way through to the end of August, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The conditions are just too rough, too big, or too windy. It’s a blank run, plain and simple.
Now, we start to see a flicker of hope as we head into the first week of September. On Thursday the 3rd, the swell is big again, 10 ft from the west, but the wind is a clean cross-off from the WSW at 22 mph. The combined energy is strong (1030), but it’s a big, powerful swell. The tide and wind setup are actually favorable, but at this size, it’s only for the experienced crew. Beginners, stay on the beach.
The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the morning of Sunday the 6th of September. This is the jewel. The swell is a solid 5 ft from the west, with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, packing a punch (1191). The real magic is the wind: glassy, from the SSE at just 3 mph. Nothing but clean, peeling lines. The wave comment says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, and I’ll second that. The long period means it’ll be a bit walled-up at a beach break, but for a point or reef, this is pure gold. The crowd situation is “never” a problem here, so you’ll have it all to yourself. This is the morning to set the alarm.
The afternoon of Sunday the 6th is still good, with a 7 ft west swell and a light breeze, but it’s a touch onshore, so the morning is the clear winner. Monday the 7th is a step down, with a cross-shore wind and a smaller swell. The second week tails off with a big, blown-out swell from the NW on the 8th, so don’t get your hopes up for that.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a washout. Don’t even bother. The only real standout, the peak of the whole outlook, is the morning of Sunday the 6th of September. Mark it down. It’s a long way off, so the forecast could shift, but as it stands, that’s your window for a proper session.
Stay patient, and I’ll see you out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Mon morning). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Thu morning, near gales from the N by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 19 | W 18 | W 16 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4223 | 3616 | 2721 | 1976 | 1672 | 1285 | 1041 | 828 | 280 | 173 | 314 | 1034 | 2512 | 1202 | 427 | 403 | 522 | 339 | 390 | 2480 | 349 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 10:38AM3.16m | 10:54PM3.33m | 11:13AM3.23m | 11:28PM3.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:33AM0.16m | 4:45PM0.16m | 5:07AM0.07m | 5:20PM0.12m | ||||||||
7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | — | — | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 15 | W 14 | NE 7 | NW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | W 19 | W 18 | NW 6 | W 10 |
313 | 148 | 88 | 45 | — | — | 590 | 828 | 280 | 163 | 77 | 109 | 142 | 199 | 427 | 99 | 72 | 339 | 390 | 19 | 349 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — | — | W 18 | W 16 | — | W 24 | W 13 | N 8 | NW 8 | NW 21 | N 7 | W 13 | WNW 16 | W 16 |
— | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 54 | 47 | — | 11 | 125 | 223 | 86 | 17 | 25 | 53 | 26 | 305 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 24 | W 11 | W 21 | — | W 12 | NNW 7 | N 7 | N 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 39 | 79 | — | 27 | 15 | 4 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | WNW 4 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | — | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 16 | — |
4223 | 3616 | 2721 | 1976 | 1672 | 1285 | 1041 | 29 | 143 | 173 | 314 | 1034 | 2512 | 1202 | — | 403 | 522 | 186 | 123 | 2480 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 97 | 152 | 111 | 196 | 196 | 152 | 192 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 188 | 192 | 228 | 152 | 93 | 95 | 187 | 97 | 196 | 152 | 152 |
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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