Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NNW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, W swell with 5,491 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with NNW 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 23s is also forecast. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s look at what’s cookin’ at Wharariki Beach. We’ve got a long stretch of junk to start—wind howlin’ and swell way too big—so forget about paddlin’ out ‘til things settle.
Right now, we’re in a run of poor conditions. Friday the 28th is a write-off: 12ft to 13ft of short-period NNW swell under near-gale onshore winds. That’s massive, messy, and dangerous. Saturday the 29th stays blown out with 25–31 mph cross-off winds—5ft to 6ft of swell but the wind’s still rippin’. Sunday the 30th has 6ft of long-period west swell at 17 seconds, but 25–40 mph wind keeps it ugly. Monday the 31st sees the same story: 12ft of west swell with 14–15 second period, but near-gale cross-off winds ruin the surface.
Now, pay attention to Tuesday, September 1st. That’s the standout in this whole window. The swell has dropped to 10ft from the west with a moderate 10-second period. Wind is a clean cross-off at 28 mph. That’s still a heavy slab for intermediate and above—over 8ft, so it’s expert territory. The combined wave energy is strong at 1876, and the water temp is 57°F, 1°F warmer than average, so it’s a touch warmer than usual. Crowds never show up here, so you’ll have it to yourself. But only if you’ve got the skills—this is a big, powerful west swell with solid energy.
After that, the quality fades again. Wednesday morning, September 2nd, has 8ft of west swell at 14 seconds with clean cross-off wind, but the score drops to marginal because of tide concerns. Thursday and beyond are mostly cross-shore junk or gale-force nonsense. There’s a promising blip on Saturday, September 12th: 8ft of WNW swell with a light 6 mph offshore breeze from the east in the morning. That’s glassy and clean, but the swell period is short at 7 seconds, and the combined energy is low at 711. It’s a fleeting moment of order after all the chaos.
No other days come close. This is a patchy run—eight days of poor surf, then one solid day for experts, then another week of wind and swell that’s either too big or too messy. Best bet is Tuesday, September 1st for the experienced crew.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Fri afternoon, gales from the WSW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed night, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Mon night, light winds from the SSW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | W 9 | W 20 | W 18 | W 17 | W 7 | W 11 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 10 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 15 | W 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2595 | 2864 | 660 | 367 | 2274 | 1945 | 1929 | 913 | 3236 | 4506 | 5004 | 4902 | 1732 | 2419 | 2166 | 2066 | 550 | 605 | 620 | 1051 | 1757 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 1:07PM3.11m | 1:26AM3.07m | 1:53PM2.97m | 2:16AM2.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:59AM0.20m | 7:19PM0.35m | 7:43AM0.36m | 8:08PM0.52m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | 5 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 14 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | NW 14 | — | — | NW 11 | NW 14 | WNW 15 | — | — | W 15 | WNW 8 | W 15 | W 15 |
| kJ | 142 | 89 | 660 | 181 | 89 | 31 | 28 | 12 | 1 | 214 | — | — | 125 | 49 | 42 | — | — | 381 | 620 | 1051 | 1757 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 23 | W 22 | W 21 | WNW 20 | NNW 7 | WNW 18 | — | NW 15 | — | — | — | WNW 14 | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | WNW 15 | — | WNW 15 |
| kJ | — | 11 | 38 | 78 | 135 | 31 | 30 | — | 9 | — | — | — | 19 | — | 7 | — | — | — | 21 | — | 43 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 21 | NW 20 | NW 19 | W 8 | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | W 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 44 | 16 | 14 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | W 13 | W 9 | W 20 | W 18 | W 17 | W 7 | W 11 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 10 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 2595 | 2864 | 485 | 367 | 2274 | 1945 | 1929 | 913 | 3236 | 4506 | 5004 | 4902 | 1732 | 2419 | 2166 | 2066 | 550 | 605 | 429 | 287 | 230 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 228 | 215 | 86 | 95 | 97 | 152 | 111 | 196 | 152 | 152 | 196 | 196 | 446 | 175 | 152 | 111 | 111 | 95 | 97 | 152 | 111 |
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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