Wharariki Beach surf break

Wharariki Beach surfForecast / Nelson – West Coast / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Tuesday 24 Mar 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Wharariki Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Wharariki Beach sea temperature is
17.8° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

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 (Mar 25) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 3s is also forecast. 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 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Mar 27) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Mar 26) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Wed 25th Mar)1.5ft (0.4m) 12s
Best Surf 1AM (Sun 29th Mar)2ft (0.6m) 14s
Most Powerful 4AM (Fri 27th Mar)13ft (4.0m) 12s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 94mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue night, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, near gales from the ESE by Thu morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNE on Fri morning, calm by Sun night).

Tuesday
24
Wednesday
25
Thursday
26
Friday
27
Saturday
28
Sunday
29
Monday
30
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.7
W
0.6
W
0.5
W
0.4
WSW
0.4
WSW
0.6
W
1.7
N
3
N
3.5
N
3.5
N
3
NNE
1.9
NW
1.6
WNW
1.5
WNW
0.6
W
0.6
W
0.7
W
0.8
WNW
1.1
NW
2.2
WNW
3
W
Period(s) (?)14131312121611111210910109141413910610
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)17912582504818667321663936227313537244713241311311701102393871462
Wind
(km/h)
20
WNW
20
WNW
15
W
10
ESE
20
ESE
35
ESE
60
ESE
55
E
40
NE
50
NNE
30
N
20
NW
25
WNW
25
WNW
15
SW
25
ESE
10
E
10
N
35
WNW
50
W
45
WSW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscrosscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
oncross-
on
crosscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
crossoncross-
on
crosscross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
2:38PM
3.05
3:07AM
3.00
3:35PM
2.80
4:10AM
2.79
4:47PM
2.59
5:29AM
2.66
6:14PM
2.51
6:55AM
2.66
7:37PM
2.57
8:08AM
2.79
8:42PM
2.73
9:05AM
2.96
9:33PM
2.91
Low Tide
/ height (m)
8:54PM
0.38
9:26AM
0.53
9:53PM
0.62
10:35AM
0.73
11:07PM
0.80
11:57AM
0.83
12:31AM
0.84
1:20PM
0.77
1:48AM
0.75
2:28PM
0.61
2:49AM
0.58
3:21PM
0.42
3:39AM
0.41
Tuesday
24
Wednesday
25
Thursday
26
Friday
27
Saturday
28
Sunday
29
Monday
30
Sunrise7:35--7:35--7:37--7:37--7:39--7:39--7:41--
Sunset-7:35--7:34--7:31--7:30--7:29--7:27--7:25-
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
Rain (mm)
-----13293319232-----22--
Temp. °C171718161717151618181919181818161718181815
Feels °C (?)141417151412581011161716151513171814107
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Wharariki Beach:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Wharariki Beach surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest