Wharariki Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.51° S 172.67° E

Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 22 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Wharariki Beach sea temperature is
14.5° C
1.0° 

Wharariki Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 14s period, W swell with 9,130 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. 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 5.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Wed 22nd Jul)2ft (0.6m) 14s
Best Surf 3PM (Sat 25th Jul)15ft (4.5m) 14s
Most Powerful12PM (Sat 25th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, mates, let's have a look at what's on offer for the next couple of weeks. There's a bit of a rough patch to start, but things are looking up for a solid weekend.

The forecast kicks off on Wednesday, July 22, but it’s a tough watch. The only real hope is Wharariki Beach, but it's a slow start. The swell is tiny, just a whisper at 1 ft from the WSW, and while the water temperature is hanging around 58°, which is a degree warmer than usual for this time of year, the conditions are just poor. We’re looking at a couple of days of that, with the wind blowing cross-off, but the swell is too weak to do anything with.

Thursday, July 23, the swell picks up a touch to 3 ft from the W, but the wind is howling cross-shore, making it a lumpy, choppy mess. Not worth paddling out for.

Friday, July 24, is a write-off. The wind is screaming cross-onshore at 28 mph, and the swell is a messy 10 ft from the NW with a short period of 7 seconds. That’s a full-on kite-surfing scene, not a paddle-surfing one.

Now, Saturday, July 25, we get a massive, clean swell – 16 ft from the W, with a period of 13 seconds. The wind is a clean cross-off from the SW. But here’s the thing: the combined energy is absolutely thumping at 7694, and the afternoon confirms it’s just too big for this break. This is strictly for experts only, and even then, it’s a dicey proposition. The energy is massive.

Sunday, July 26, is the real standout. The swell drops to a very manageable 6 ft from the W, and in the afternoon, the wind goes glassy – a dead calm 0 mph from the NE. The water is still glassy. That’s the call. The combined energy is still a solid 1191, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. Sunday afternoon at Wharariki Beach is the pick of the entire forecast. The swell is 6 ft from the W, and the wind is perfect.

Monday, July 27, has some potential in the afternoon with a 5 ft swell from the W and light cross-off winds, offering good surf, but it’s not the standout Sunday is.

The following week (starting July 28) is a mixed bag. There are a few mornings with clean, waist-high swell (5 ft to 4 ft) and good wind, but nothing that screams "drop everything." The long-range call for the weekend of August 1 has a glassy afternoon with 4 ft from the W, which is a nice, small-wave option. Then on August 4, there's another glassy morning with a 3 ft, long-period (14 sec) groundswell from the W. That could be a fun, clean session if you're into a long board.

The main thing is Sunday, July 26, afternoon. That’s your window for the best, cleanest, most powerful surf that’s still within reason.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Wed night, near gales from the WSW by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SW on Sat morning, calm by Sun afternoon).

Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
5
3
4
3
2
3
0
2
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WSW
12
0.4
WSW
12
0.9
W
14
1
W
14
0.9
W
13
0.6
W
13
3
NW
7
2.4
NW
8
0.9
W
17
5
W
13
4.5
W
14
2.5
W
15
1.9
W
14
1.7
W
14
1.8
W
13
1
W
12
1.6
W
12
1.4
W
8
1.5
W
8
1.5
W
9
1.6
W
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
47
47
329
361
284
117
947
710
464
7299
7350
3218
1525
1191
1121
309
726
270
289
365
254
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
15
WSW
5
S
25
W
35
W
40
NW
45
NNW
35
WNW
30
W
55
SW
45
WSW
15
SSW
15
SE
0
NNE
25
SW
20
SW
10
SW
30
WSW
15
SW
25
WSW
30
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
4:01PM2.60m
4:22AM2.55m
5:00PM2.50m
5:25AM2.44m
6:06PM2.47m
6:32AM2.42m
7:10PM2.52m
7:34AM2.48m
8:05PM2.63m
8:26AM2.59m
8:53PM2.77m
9:12AM2.72m
9:35PM2.91m
Low Tide
9:46AM0.70m
10:13PM0.87m
10:42AM0.85m
11:15PM0.99m
11:45AM0.93m
00:22AM1.02m
12:49PM0.93m
1:25AM0.96m
1:47PM0.85m
2:19AM0.85m
2:37PM0.73m
3:06AM0.70m
3:20PM0.59m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
clear
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:43
7:43
7:43
7:41
7:41
7:39
7:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:27
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:31
 mm
5
13
5
8
1
3
Temp °C
11
13
12
13
14
14
14
14
12
10
11
10
8
9
9
10
11
10
12
13
12
Feels °C
9
10
9
7
7
7
8
7
4
-2
0
3
3
6
3
5
6
3
10
9
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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