Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, NNW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, W swell with 5,146 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with WNW 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what we’ve got cooking at Wharariki Beach. We've got a 16-day window, and it's going to be a bit of a mixed bag. The first proper surfable days are a few days out, so don't get your hopes up for a quick paddle this morning.
The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary there.
The action starts late on Thursday, the 27th of August. The swell is a bit weak and wonky, but by Thursday afternoon the wind switches to a clean cross-offshore. We're looking at 4ft from the WNW with a moderate breeze. The combined energy is pretty weak at 357. It's not going to be epic, but it'll be clean. If you're itching for a paddle, that's your first window.
Friday the 28th is a write-off. We get a big pulse of 13ft from the NNW with a howling onshore near-gale. That's pure chaos and only for the hardcore, and even then, with such strong wind, it’s a no-go. The energy is massive at 3458, but the wind ruins it.
Saturday the 29th is a bit of a tease. Morning has 6ft from the west, but the wind is messy. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-off wind, but the period drops to just 6 seconds, which is weak and short-period junk. The energy is only 393.
Sunday the 30th is a standout. Morning session is the pick of the entire outlook. 8ft from the west on a very, very long 18-second period groundswell. The combined energy is cranking at 3469. You’ve got a clean cross-off wind. This is a powerful, clean swell. That kind of long period is going to be a dream for the point breaks and reefs around here, but at a beach break it might close out a little straight. Still, it's the best looking morning of the whole forecast. The afternoon on the same day gets too big and the wind gets too strong.
After that, the windows get mixed. Monday the 31st has the size, but the wind is a gale force. The first few days of September are plagued by strong cross-shore winds making for lumpy, messy conditions. A few afternoons clean up with cross-off winds, but the 6ft to 7ft won't feel as good as the Sunday morning stand-out.
The final decent-looking window is September 10th. Thursday morning has 7ft of west swell on a long 18-second period. The wind is a light 9 mph from the SE, giving us a clean cross-off. The energy is a solid 2894. It’s another one that’s promising, but being that far out, it’s not a lock.
The truth is, apart from that Sunday the 30th morning, most of this is marginal. Wind is the main enemy here, and it’s going to be tough to find a clean, rideable wave most days. For the beginners, the few 5ft and under days are clean, which is good. For the experts, that Sunday morning is a must-watch.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed night, min 11°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Thu afternoon, near gales from the NNW by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat morning, gales from the WSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 | WNW 14 | W 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 9 | W 11 | W 6 | W 8 | W 18 | W 9 | W 13 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
801 | 1765 | 280 | 334 | 260 | 910 | 3798 | 1958 | 971 | 771 | 369 | 597 | 4059 | 2244 | 4915 | 4021 | 4965 | 3236 | 1807 | 2186 | 2048 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 11:49AM3.25m | 00:04AM3.32m | 12:26PM3.21m | 00:43AM3.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:42AM0.05m | 5:57PM0.14m | 6:19AM0.09m | 6:36PM0.21m | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | 1 | 14 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | -3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | — | W 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 15 | W 14 | W 24 | N 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | N 8 | — | NW 14 | NW 15 | — | W 14 | W 14 | ESE 5 | WNW 15 |
801 | — | 280 | 334 | 260 | 72 | 102 | 11 | 225 | 153 | 45 | 9 | 6 | — | 234 | 171 | — | 610 | 1807 | 4 | 21 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 19 | W 13 | ESE 5 | WNW 16 | — | — | — | W 21 | — | NW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 15 | E 5 | NW 14 | W 19 |
— | — | 7 | 156 | 24 | 80 | — | — | — | 78 | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 24 | 52 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 18 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | W 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 24 | — | — |
— | — | — | 54 | 75 | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 14 | WNW 7 | E 3 | — | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 9 | W 11 | W 6 | W 8 | W 18 | W 9 | W 13 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | — | W 14 | W 14 |
44 | 1765 | 254 | 6 | — | 910 | 3798 | 1958 | 971 | 771 | 369 | 597 | 4059 | 2244 | 4915 | 4021 | 4965 | 3236 | — | 2186 | 2048 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 152 | 97 | 95 | 111 | 111 | 152 | 255 | 215 | 86 | 97 | 97 | 152 | 97 | 196 | 211 | 97 | 196 | 152 | 188 | 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.
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.











