Wharariki Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.51° S 172.67° E

Issued: 5 pm 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Wharariki Beach sea temperature is
15.1° C

1.4°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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 6 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period, W swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 16s period, W swell with 2,084 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 08) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period. 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 2.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) 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 3.5m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Wed 8th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 14s
Best Surf 9PM (Wed 8th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 12s
Most Powerful 9PM (Mon 6th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 16s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, let’s break down the outlook for Wharariki Beach. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. The first few days are a total washout with some serious wind and messy conditions. There’s a big gap of poor surf to start, so don’t expect to get wet right away.

The first decent chance comes on Wednesday the 8th of July, after lunch. The wind drops to a light breeze, giving us clean, cross-off conditions. The swell is small, only 2ft from the west, but it’s clean, and the water temp is a touch warmer than normal at 59°. It’s not a standout, but it’s a start.

The real gem, and the best on offer, is Friday the 10th of July in the afternoon. The wind goes completely glassy from the northeast at just 3 mph. The swell is a smooth 4ft from the west, with a nice long period of 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate at 612, but with that glassy surface, it’s going to be a dream. The long period will make it better for the points and reefs, but at Wharariki, with that exposed west-facing setup, it’s still going to be the pick of the period. Keep an eye on the crowds though, as it can get busy when it’s this clean.

The next morning, Saturday the 11th, is also tidy with a light breeze and clean 3ft surf, but it’s not as good as Friday afternoon.

Further out, there’s a promising window on Friday the 17th of July. The morning starts with a light offshore southerly at 6 mph, and a clean 2ft west swell with a solid 16-second period. The combined energy is 520. It’s not massive, but it’s clean and uncrowded when it’s like this. That’s a solid long-range bet, though keep in mind it’s a fair way off.

The rest of the second week is mostly plagued by strong winds and poor surf conditions. The 14th of July has a massive 10ft north swell, but it’s onshore and messy – that’s expert-only territory and looks more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle session. The 18th of July has some clean waves in the morning with a 6ft west swell, but the wind is up, and the score isn’t there.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are a bust. The clear standout is Friday afternoon the 10th of July with glassy conditions. The Sunday morning of the 17th is another decent, clean option worth keeping an eye on. Between the 12th and the 16th, it’s a real struggle with poor conditions.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 56mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (gales from the ESE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the E by Wed afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the E by Fri afternoon).

Mon
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
3
2
1
2
2
2
0
2
2
1
3
1
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
W
17
1.8
W
16
1.4
W
16
1.1
W
15
0.7
W
14
0.7
W
14
0.7
W
13
1.2
W
13
1.6
W
16
1.3
W
14
1
W
18
1.2
W
17
1.1
W
16
0.9
W
16
0.6
W
18
1
W
17
1.1
W
16
1
W
16
1
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.6
W
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2388
1626
940
530
198
184
161
473
1226
701
628
851
605
391
224
600
607
496
447
275
150
Wind (km/h)
65
ESE
60
SE
50
SE
45
SE
25
SSE
10
S
5
E
15
SSE
35
SE
30
SE
20
SE
15
ESE
10
E
15
E
15
ESE
10
E
20
E
15
ESE
10
NNE
5
NW
5
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
2:23AM2.92m
2:53PM2.75m
3:13AM2.86m
3:47PM2.72m
4:10AM2.80m
4:50PM2.73m
5:15AM2.78m
5:57PM2.78m
6:24AM2.82m
7:04PM2.90m
7:32AM2.92m
8:08PM3.06m
8:35AM3.05m
Low Tide
8:13PM0.57m
8:44AM0.50m
9:02PM0.64m
9:36AM0.55m
9:59PM0.70m
10:34AM0.58m
11:04PM0.71m
11:39AM0.57m
00:13AM0.67m
12:46PM0.51m
1:21AM0.55m
1:50PM0.40m
2:25AM0.38m
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
mod rain
light rain
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:52
7:52
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:16
5:17
5:19
5:20
 mm
4
19
21
9
3
Temp °C
14
13
13
14
13
13
14
12
13
13
12
9
9
10
9
9
10
10
10
11
12
Feels °C
1
0
3
6
5
11
10
7
4
5
6
4
6
5
5
5
5
6
7
9
8
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
W
17
1.8
W
16
1.4
W
16
1.1
W
15
1.4
ESE
7
0.7
W
14
0.7
W
13
1.2
W
13
1.6
W
16
1.3
W
14
1
W
18
1.2
W
17
1.1
W
16
0.9
W
16
0.7
W
14
1
W
17
1.1
W
16
1
W
16
1
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.6
W
15
Energy kJ
2388
1626
940
530
176
184
161
473
1226
701
628
851
605
391
203
600
607
496
447
275
150
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NNE
8
0.8
N
8
1
N
8
0.7
N
8
0.7
W
14
0.6
E
6
0.5
W
7
1
ESE
6
1.5
ESE
8
0.6
W
20
0.9
WSW
14
0.2
WNW
18
0.2
WNW
16
0.5
E
5
0.6
W
18
0.1
N
12
0.1
NE
12
0.1
NE
11
0.1
N
11
Energy kJ
19
84
132
57
198
22
26
80
266
271
331
30
25
10
224
3
6
5
2
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
WSW
8
0.2
W
20
0.4
W
18
0.8
W
17
0.3
W
22
0.1
NW
20
0.1
NW
14
0.1
E
6
0.2
W
21
0.1
W
15
0.1
W
19
0.1
N
14
0.1
N
13
Energy kJ
39
30
104
358
82
15
8
1
36
4
7
4
4
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
4
ESE
9
2.5
ESE
7
1.6
ESE
6
1.7
ESE
6
2
SE
7
1.5
ESE
6
2.1
ESE
8
1.6
ESE
7
1.8
ESE
8
0.8
E
6
0.8
E
6
0.7
ESE
5
0.4
ESE
4
0.3
E
4
0.4
E
4
0.3
E
3
0.6
N
4
Energy kJ
2640
779
179
202
373
181
532
261
358
41
40
23
6
3
4
2
10
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
6
1
4
4
3
2
2
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
2
2
Distance (km)
95
171
95
20
20
11
20
0
11
111
11
11
11
0
11
0
111
0
11
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - West Coast
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
6
6
5
4
4
4
4
3
4
6
4
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
7
8
7
5
5
9
6
9
9
5
6
5
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
5
  • 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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