Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, W swell with 4,108 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 (Aug 04) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wharariki Beach in the next 16 days are 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks on our shoreline.
We start off small and quiet, but by Sunday the 2nd of August there's a little knee-to-waist high swell showing up, around 2 to 3 feet of clean, long-period groundswell from the west. The water temp is about 57°, pretty average for the year. Sunday morning is the best bet with a light offshore breeze, but it's tiny. We’re looking at Wharariki Beach. The combined energy is weak at 192, so grab a longboard or a funboard.
Come Monday the 3rd of August, the ocean goes mental. We're talking a solid 8 feet of west groundswell with a massive 18-second period, packing a crazy punch – the combined energy jumps to 4551. That’s expert-only, no question. Problem is, the wind is screaming from the WSW at 31 mph, turning it into a messy washing machine. Not surfable.
Tuesday the 4th calms down a bit, but it's still lumpy and cross-onshore in the afternoon. There's some waist-to-chest high swell (3 to 5 feet) with moderate energy (908 to 1120), but the conditions are just marginal.
The real action starts from the 10th of August. Monday the 10th is a standout morning: about 3 feet of clean groundswell from the west with a nice 16-second period, light offshore winds, and a combined energy of 557 – clean, fun waves. Then Tuesday the 11th, the afternoon session looks prime. 5 feet of swell from the WNW with a long 19-second period, pushing a combined energy of 1963, and the winds stay clean and cross-off. This is a genuine window for some solid, lined-up waves.
The absolute standout, though, is Friday the 14th of August. The afternoon is looking magic. About 4 feet of west groundswell with a 17-second period, gentle offshore winds, and a combined energy of 1469. The forecast says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. That's the session to mark on your calendar.
Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th stay fun, with 5 to 8 feet of swell, but the wind starts to get side-shore, making it choppier. The energy is ramping up to 3466, but the quality drops a notch.
Now, a massive warning for Monday the 17th of August. The forecast shows a huge 10-foot swell from the west-northwest with a 15-16 second period. The combined energy is monstrous at 3973. The wind is side-shore, but the waves are going to be absolutely thumping. This is big-wave, expert territory only. This break will be too big for nearly everyone. Only the committed chargers should be out.
So the standout for the whole run? It’s a tight call between the excellent, clean conditions on Friday the 14th and the powerful, clean swell on Tuesday the 11th. For the best quality, hit Friday afternoon. For a bit more size before the big stuff hits, Monday the 10th morning is your session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sun night, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri night, min 7°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 12 | W 12 | W 20 | W 18 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 15 | W 14 | W 21 | W 19 | WNW 10 | W 14 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | W 19 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 137 | 98 | 2078 | 3930 | 3893 | 2907 | 501 | 1119 | 581 | 280 | 166 | 104 | 63 | 34 | 29 | 18 | 33 | 95 | 386 | 353 | 336 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 3:38AM2.77m | 4:18PM2.71m | 4:50AM2.68m | 5:35PM2.70m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:02AM0.64m | 10:37PM0.77m | 11:14AM0.70m | 11:56PM0.76m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — |
 | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 10 |
Temp °C | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
Feels °C | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 12 | W 20 | WNW 19 | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | W 9 | W 15 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 15 | W 14 | W 13 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | N 7 |
| kJ | 137 | 98 | 212 | 583 | 31 | 29 | 375 | 1119 | 581 | 280 | 166 | 104 | 63 | 31 | 12 | 12 | 32 | 95 | 386 | 353 | 243 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | NW 21 | WNW 19 | NW 9 | NW 11 | W 16 | E 6 | ENE 4 | W 18 | ENE 4 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 12 | WNW 10 | W 14 | W 13 | W 19 | W 18 | W 19 |
| kJ | 25 | 16 | 17 | 35 | 3 | 5 | 501 | 39 | 6 | 25 | 4 | 23 | 11 | 10 | 26 | 18 | 33 | 14 | 66 | 166 | 336 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 19 | W 19 | W 11 | NW 8 | — | — | WNW 16 | NW 6 | W 18 | N 14 | W 16 | ENE 4 | W 21 | W 21 | W 19 | W 14 | N 11 | W 20 | W 12 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 30 | 62 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 25 | 1 | 25 | 4 | 46 | 1 | 9 | 34 | 29 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 28 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 20 | W 18 | W 18 | W 17 | E 5 | — | — | E 4 | — | — | E 3 | E 3 | ENE 3 | E 3 | ENE 2 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2078 | 3930 | 3893 | 2907 | 7 | — | — | 6 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 111 | 152 | 152 | 188 | 34 | 119 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 11 | 20 | 0 | 4 |
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.
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