Wharariki Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.51° S 172.67° E

Wharariki Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 27 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Wharariki Beach sea temperature is
14.2° C
0.8° 

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 27 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, W swell with 6,599 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s 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 (Jul 28) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 18s. 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 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 28th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 12s
Best Surf 6PM (Fri 31st Jul)13ft (4.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 6PM (Fri 31st Jul)13ft (4.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a good hard look at what’s coming for Wharariki Beach. This isn’t a rushed season; we’ve got a bit of a slow cooker for the next week, but patience is going to pay off.

The week kicks off with a glassy, clean Monday afternoon (27 July). We’ve got a 4 ft swell from the west, with a long 12-second period giving it some real shape. The combined energy is a solid 497, and the water is sitting at 58°, which is about average for this time of year. With the wind glassy from the NE, it’s a proper session for an intermediate who wants to get into some lined-up, clean waves. This is a good start, but it’s not the main event.

The next few days are a bit of a write-off. Tuesday morning (28 July) is cross-off, but only 3 ft and the energy drops to 194. It’s surfable, but you’d be better off waiting. Wednesday morning (29 July) has another glassy window with 3 ft and 218 energy, but it’s small. By Wednesday afternoon, the WNW wind kicks up to 16 mph, and while the swell period jumps to 14 seconds, it’s cross-shore and messy. Thursday (30 July) is a total mess with fresh to strong cross-onshore winds, and Friday (31 July) sees a massive 12 ft to 13 ft swell from the west, but it’s blowing a near gale at 34 mph. The combined energy skyrockets to 1658 and then 4096, but the wind is cross-off and ripping. That’s expert-only territory, and honestly, it’s more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle session.

Now, the real standout. Clear your calendar for Monday morning, 3 August. The wind is glassy again from the ESE, and we’ve got a 4 ft swell from the west with a very long period of 19 seconds. The energy is 957. This is a proper groundswell, and for a beach break, that long period can make it a bit straight, but Wharariki can handle it with the right tide. The conditions are clean, and the forecast is rated as very good. This is the best of the lot.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, 5 August, we get another clean window. The wind is offshore from the SSE at 16 mph, and we’ve got 6 ft from the west with an 8-second period. The energy is 571, and the conditions are clean. It’s a shorter period, so it’s a bit more playful, but it’s a solid session.

The second week gets a bit more ordinary. Saturday morning, 10 August, has a tiny 1 ft swell with only 72 energy. It’s clean, but you’ll be looking for any ripple. Tuesday morning, 11 August, is also clean with 1 ft and 83 energy – surfable, but very ordinary. Keep an eye on the longer-range forecasts, because this blank run might shift, but for now, it’s a quiet end to the outlook.

Overall, the best on offer is definitely Monday morning, 3 August, for that glassy, long-period groundswell, and Wednesday afternoon, 5 August, for the offshore, punchy waves. The rest of the first week is either too small, too windy, or too big.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NW by Thu morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the W on Fri morning, light winds from the WNW by Sat afternoon).

Mon
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
1
3
2
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
W
12
1.1
W
12
0.9
W
11
0.9
W
11
0.8
W
11
0.8
W
11
1
W
14
1.1
W
14
0.8
W
14
1.9
NW
6
2.5
WNW
9
3.5
W
9
4
W
11
3.5
W
14
2.5
W
13
2.2
W
12
1.6
W
12
1.3
W
10
1.2
W
10
0.5
W
21
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
497
322
189
185
146
141
411
462
239
266
1230
1610
4096
4541
2382
1486
675
367
273
224
Wind (km/h)
5
NE
5
SE
10
ESE
10
ENE
10
ESE
5
NW
20
WNW
15
WNW
30
NW
45
NNW
40
WNW
55
WSW
45
W
45
WSW
30
E
10
WNW
20
SW
10
E
15
NW
5
ENE
Wind State
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
8:53PM2.77m
9:12AM2.72m
9:35PM2.91m
9:52AM2.85m
10:13PM3.04m
10:29AM2.95m
10:48PM3.14m
11:05AM3.02m
11:23PM3.20m
11:41AM3.06m
11:57PM3.22m
12:16PM3.06m
00:32AM3.20m
Low Tide
3:06AM0.70m
3:20PM0.59m
3:47AM0.56m
4:00PM0.45m
4:25AM0.43m
4:37PM0.35m
5:01AM0.32m
5:12PM0.28m
5:37AM0.25m
5:48PM0.25m
6:12AM0.22m
6:24PM0.27m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:39
7:37
7:37
7:35
7:35
7:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
 mm
2
1
5
5
1
2
1
1
Temp °C
10
9
9
10
10
11
12
13
14
13
13
11
11
11
10
11
10
9
10
10
Feels °C
7
6
6
8
8
7
7
10
7
4
5
-1
1
1
3
5
4
6
6
7
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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