
Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 1 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, W swell with 4,933 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 6PM. 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 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 this stretch of coast.
The next 16 days start off rough. Friday, July 31st is a total loss: 31 mph westerlies, 10-11 ft of sloppy slop, and the combined swell energy is massive (1387-2885), but it's all just wind-chop. Don't even think about it. We get a few days of nothing.
The first real nod is Saturday morning, August 1st. Wharariki Beach is the only game in town. We've got a 7 ft swell from the west, with a 13-second period – that's real groundswell energy (1662 combined energy). The wind is 12 mph ESE, cross-offshore, so it'll be clean. It's a bit big for beginners, but for intermediates, it's a solid call. The morning is the pick; the afternoon drops to 5 ft and goes cross-shore, so it'll get messy.
Sunday the 2nd is a big drop: 3 ft in the morning with a light southerly offshore breeze – glassy, clean, but tiny. Combined energy is only 211, so it's a longboard morning. The afternoon shrinks to 2 ft, not worth it.
Monday the 3rd is a cruel tease. A big 8-8 ft swell from the west, with a very long 19-second period, and the combined energy hits 4052. But the wind is screaming 31-34 mph WSW near gale, cross-offshore. It'll be clean, but it's a washing machine – only for the insane or the kite crew. The power is there, but it's howling.
Tuesday the 4th, we get a 5 ft swell from the west, 16-second period, moderate energy (1120), but the wind is a cross-shore 9 mph from the ENE. It's marginal, but you could find a corner. The afternoon is a messy cross-onshore, so hit it early.
Wednesday the 5th is the real gem. The morning is a tiny 3 ft, but the afternoon… magic. Wharariki Beach on Wednesday afternoon is glassy – zero wind, a clean 3 ft swell from the west with a 13-second period (264 energy). It's small, but it will be absolutely perfect, peeling lines. That's the session to circle.
Thursday the 6th brings a 8 ft NNW swell (8-second period – short period windswell) with a 16 mph ESE cross-offshore breeze. Combined energy is 709. It'll be clean and punchy, but that short period means it'll be a bit fat. Good for a quick hit. The afternoon drops to 6 ft and goes cross-shore.
Then we hit a long, dry spell. From Friday the 7th through to the end of the forecast, it's a grim run of tiny swell (1.0 ft to 4 ft) and howling SE to ESE winds (28-34 mph) that are cross-offshore but so strong it's just unpleasant. The combined energy is mostly under 200, and the big days like the 14th and 15th of August have a 22-second period groundswell, but the wind is a near gale, so it's just a blown-out mess. That's a solid 8 days of no good.
So, the best on offer: Saturday morning, August 1st for a solid, clean 7 ft west swell. And the absolute standout is Wednesday afternoon, August 5th – glassy, 3 ft, perfect conditions. Mark the calendar.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the W on Fri afternoon, calm by Sun morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Mon afternoon, calm by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | W 11 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 9 | W 20 | W 18 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 15 | W 14 | NW 8 | NNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1343 | 2938 | 3369 | 1452 | 660 | 325 | 220 | 74 | 384 | 3618 | 3553 | 654 | 1120 | 740 | 489 | 222 | 166 | 104 | 62 | 311 | 264 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:05AM3.02m | 11:23PM3.20m | 11:41AM3.06m | 11:57PM3.22m | 12:16PM3.06m | 00:32AM3.20m | 12:54PM3.04m | 1:10AM3.14m | 1:34PM2.98m | 1:51AM3.04m | 2:19PM2.89m | 2:40AM2.91m | 3:13PM2.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:12PM0.28m | 5:37AM0.25m | 5:48PM0.25m | 6:12AM0.22m | 6:24PM0.27m | 6:48AM0.24m | 7:02PM0.33m | 7:27AM0.29m | 7:43PM0.43m | 8:11AM0.39m | 8:31PM0.55m | 9:01AM0.52m | 9:28PM0.68m | ||||||||
7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | |
— | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 1 | -2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | N 8 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 9 | W 20 | WNW 19 | WNW 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 15 | NNW 5 | NW 8 | NNW 8 |
58 | 29 | 3369 | 1452 | 660 | 325 | 220 | 74 | 384 | 35 | 31 | 654 | 1120 | 740 | 489 | 222 | 166 | 104 | 8 | 311 | 264 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 13 | NNW 7 | W 22 | E 5 | E 4 | W 11 | W 11 | NW 8 | — | WNW 17 | W 10 | E 4 | W 18 | W 17 | E 4 | W 9 | W 8 | W 13 | W 12 |
— | — | 142 | 18 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 66 | 2 | 3 | — | 29 | 148 | 5 | 57 | 53 | 2 | 23 | 21 | 31 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 7 | NW 8 | — | W 20 | W 19 | W 19 | — | — | — | NW 11 | — | N 16 | N 15 | N 14 | W 16 | N 13 | W 14 | W 21 | W 20 |
— | — | 10 | 11 | — | 31 | 30 | 61 | — | — | — | 4 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 46 | 3 | 62 | 35 | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | W 11 | — | SE 3 | E 6 | NW 3 | — | — | W 5 | W 18 | W 18 | W 9 | E 4 | — | — | E 3 | — | NE 3 | ENE 3 | ESE 3 | E 3 |
1343 | 2938 | — | 5 | 22 | 2 | — | — | 72 | 3618 | 3553 | 404 | 4 | — | — | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 93 | 97 | 211 | 95 | 98 | 11 | 34 | 0 | 152 | 111 | 152 | 196 | 367 | 11 | 34 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 7 |
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.











