
Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NW swell with 2,156 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period with NW 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 (Aug 09) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 18s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wharariki Beach in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what Wairaiki-Beach has in store. It’s gonna be a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s one proper standout session if you’re patient.
The first few days are looking pretty average. Saturday the 8th is a write-off with onshore winds and weak, short-period swell—best to stay home.
Sunday the 9th is a big no-go for your typical surfer. We’ve got a massive 12ft NW swell churning in, but the cross-wind is howling at 19 mph and the combined energy is absolutely raging at (2247). That’s serious power, but it’s too big and chopped up for a fun paddle. This setup looks way more interesting for the kite surfers than for us.
Things start to settle down from Monday the 10th. We get a clean, cross-off breeze and a solid 5ft W groundswell with a 15-second period on Monday afternoon. The energy is moderate (1144), and while it’s not a world-beater, it’s the first real chance for a few clean lines. The wind tidies up more on Tuesday afternoon with a glassy, long-period 2ft W swell (369)—fun little waves for the logs if you’re keen.
Now, for the standout—you’re gonna want to mark Sunday the 16th on your calendar. That morning, we’ve got a cracking 8ft W groundswell with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy is pumping at (3261), so this is serious, powerful stuff. But here’s the kicker—the wind is light and cross-off, just a gentle breeze, keeping the surface clean. This is expert territory with that size, especially at a beach break where a long-period W swell can jack up fast and shut down. The crowd factor is never an issue here, so you’ll have plenty of room to find your peak. This is the best session on offer.
After that big day, the swell drops back but remains rideable through the following week. Tuesday the 18th serves up some glassy 3ft W swell in the morning and afternoon (333)—perfect for a longboard if you want a cruisy session with zero wind. Thursday the 20th afternoon is also tidy, with a clean 3ft W swell (596) and barely a breath of wind.
Further out, into the second week, the surf stays consistent but smaller. Saturday the 22nd has a clean 2ft W swell in the morning (214), but the afternoon gets spoilt by a cross-onshore breeze. Sunday the 23rd finishes the run with a glassy 3ft W swell (432) in the morning—a nice, clean little session to wrap things up.
Don’t expect much from the middle of the window, but that Sunday the 16th is the real gem. Get out there if you can handle the size.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri night, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NNW on Sat morning, strong winds from the NW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 74mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 13 | W 19 | W 18 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
537 | 284 | 341 | 481 | 2088 | 636 | 249 | 387 | 1074 | 253 | 167 | 260 | 219 | 371 | 494 | 392 | 302 | 325 | 354 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:50AM2.68m | 5:35PM2.70m | 6:09AM2.68m | 6:51PM2.81m | 7:24AM2.80m | 7:59PM3.00m | 8:28AM2.97m | 8:56PM3.22m | 9:23AM3.14m | 9:47PM3.40m | 10:11AM3.27m | 10:32PM3.51m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:37PM0.77m | 11:14AM0.70m | 11:56PM0.76m | 12:31PM0.65m | 1:12AM0.63m | 1:40PM0.51m | 2:17AM0.43m | 2:40PM0.32m | 3:13AM0.21m | 3:32PM0.14m | 4:03AM0.04m | 4:19PM0.01m | |||||||
— | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | |
mm | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 28 | 25 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | W 18 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | W 16 | NNW 8 | W 14 | W 13 | W 19 | W 18 | W 16 | N 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNE 6 |
13 | 284 | 341 | 481 | 159 | 636 | 249 | 387 | 67 | 253 | 167 | 260 | 219 | 129 | 494 | 175 | 302 | 325 | 95 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 19 | W 19 | W 18 | W 18 | — | W 14 | W 16 | NNW 8 | N 12 | W 6 | N 8 | W 13 | N 7 | WNW 13 | W 16 | W 14 | NNE 6 | W 19 | WNW 10 |
7 | 64 | 99 | 315 | — | 144 | 249 | 92 | 3 | 38 | 29 | 86 | 9 | 18 | 122 | 63 | 85 | 255 | 235 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | W 12 | W 12 | — | — | W 18 | W 13 | — | — | N 8 | W 7 | NNW 7 | W 6 | N 13 | WNW 12 | W 19 | W 17 | W 16 | W 17 |
2 | 12 | 11 | — | — | 155 | 54 | — | — | 31 | 14 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 56 | 64 | 211 | 5 | 354 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | — | — | NE 6 | NW 10 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 15 | E 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | N 4 | N 7 | — | N 7 | — | N 6 | — |
537 | — | — | 245 | 2088 | 401 | 186 | 127 | 1074 | 2 | 25 | 5 | 19 | 371 | — | 392 | — | 62 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 152 | 97 | 111 | 95 | 152 | 86 | 95 | 95 | 163 | 11 | 34 | 11 | 11 | 111 | 95 | 34 | 11 | 186 | 11 |
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.











