Wharariki Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.51° S 172.67° E

Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 30 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Wharariki Beach sea temperature is
13.9°C
0.9° 

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 30 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 16s period, W swell with 17,188 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m 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 6.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Tue 1st Sep)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Best Surf 9AM (Tue 1st Sep)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 6AM (Mon 7th Sep)20ft (6.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s take a look at what Wharariki Beach is serving up over the next couple of weeks. This is a raw, exposed stretch of sand, and the 16-day window is a real rollercoaster. The first week is mostly a washout for paddle surfing – the wind’s cranking and the swell’s too big. But there’s one window that’s worth planning around.

The first real opportunity pops up on Tuesday morning, 1st September. That morning, we’ve got a solid 10-foot swell from the west, with a 14-second period – that’s a proper groundswell with a ton of energy (combined energy at 3236). The wind is a cross-off from the southwest at 25 mph, which keeps the surface clean, but the swell is just too big for this break, so it’s strictly for the experts. The water temperature is about average for this time of year.

From there, the rest of the first week and into the second week is a rough run. The wind stays strong, mostly fresh breeze or stronger, and the swell stays big and messy. We’ve got cross-shore and cross-on conditions, even some rain. The combined energy stays high, often in the thousands, but that’s just raw power without the good wind to go with it. This setup is honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing during that stretch.

Then we hit a gap, and things get interesting on Saturday afternoon, 12th September. That afternoon, the wind goes dead calm – cross-off – and the swell settles to 8 feet from the west, with a 16-second period. That’s a very long-period groundswell, and the energy is still strong (3661). This is an excellent window for experienced surfers, as the waves will be clean and powerful, but the long period might make things a bit fat and tricky at a beach break – it’ll be better for the more patient, experienced surfer. The break is consistent, so you’ll get waves, but crowds are possible.

The outlook then fades again with a few marginal days, but there’s one more highlight on the morning of Tuesday, 15th September. We’ve got a 5-foot west swell, 18-second period, and a light cross-off wind from the southwest at just 3 mph. The combined energy is 2212, and the conditions are clean. This is another excellent session for experienced surfers, but again, the long period means the beach break might be a bit uneven. This one is more manageable in size, making it a solid option for intermediates who are comfortable with a bit of a challenge.

So, the standout is without a doubt the Saturday afternoon on the 12th of September – that calm wind and solid, long-period swell is the best on offer. The Tuesday morning on the 15th is a close second, but it’s smaller. Everything else in the first week is a battle with the wind and size. Mark your calendar for that second weekend.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (gales from the WSW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the W by Wed afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed night, min 12°C on Fri afternoon). Winds decreasing (near gales from the W on Fri afternoon, moderate winds from the WNW by Sat afternoon).

Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
!
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
0
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)
3.5
W
10
4
W
10
4.5
W
10
4
W
13
3
W
14
2.5
W
14
2.5
W
14
2.1
W
17
2.1
W
14
2.5
WNW
7
2.5
WNW
8
2.5
WNW
7
3
WNW
8
3.5
WNW
9
3
WNW
9
3
W
9
2.5
W
15
2.5
W
16
2.5
WNW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2240
2823
3512
5116
3236
2639
2383
2624
1822
668
885
632
851
1835
1664
1476
3157
3552
3444
Wind (km/h)
55
WSW
65
WSW
70
WSW
55
WSW
45
SW
45
WSW
50
WSW
50
WSW
40
W
45
WNW
35
WNW
40
NW
45
NW
50
W
50
WSW
35
WSW
35
W
30
WNW
25
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
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
2:49PM2.81m
3:19AM2.69m
4:00PM2.68m
Low Tide
5:42AM0.05m
5:57PM0.14m
6:19AM0.09m
6:36PM0.21m
6:59AM0.20m
7:19PM0.35m
7:43AM0.36m
8:08PM0.52m
8:36AM0.55m
9:09PM0.70m
9:42AM0.72m
10:25PM0.81m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:54
6:54
6:52
6:50
6:48
6:47
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:04
6:05
6:06
6:07
6:07
6:08
 mm
4
4
3
9
3
Temp °C
13
12
12
11
11
12
12
13
14
15
15
15
15
14
13
12
13
13
13
Feels °C
2
-1
-2
-2
1
2
1
3
7
7
8
8
7
4
2
3
5
6
8
  • 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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