Surf Forecasts:
Wharariki Beach surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, W swell with 5,484 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 15s 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 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wharariki Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’.
We’re looking at Wharariki Beach for this whole run, and the pickin’s are slim. This is an exposed spot, set up for a NW swell, but the wind is just not playin’ ball for most of the window. The water temp is sitting around 57°F, which is about normal for this time of year – no weird anomaly, just your standard crisp South Island chill.
The first real standout is Monday morning, August 24th. The wind is a stiff cross-off at 25 mph, but the swell is a solid 10 ft from the west, with a very long period of 15 seconds. That’s groundswell, pure and simple. The energy reading is massive at 7298, and the report says wind and tide are favorable. The catch? That swell is predicted to be too big for this break. At 10 ft, this is expert-only territory, and the cross-off breeze will keep it clean, but you’ll want to be a seasoned charger to paddle out. The long period means it’ll be groomed and powerful, but for a beach break like this, it could be a bit too straight and fast. Expert crew only.
After that, the next real window is Friday morning, August 28th. Again, a big 12 ft from the NW, period 10 seconds, and a cross wind at 16 mph. The energy is 2500 – moderate to strong. The report says wind and tide are favorable, but again, the swell is too big for the break. 12 ft is no joke. That’s for the brave, and the cross wind will make it a bit of a wrestle.
After that, the rest of the forecast is a write-off. The wind is either too strong, too cross, or onshore, with lumpy, messy conditions and poor surf quality. There’s a brief moment on Saturday afternoon, August 29th, where the swell is 7 ft from the west with a ridiculous 20-second period, but the wind is a strong cross-off at 28 mph, making it a clean but wild session – only for the well-equipped.
Look, if you’re an expert with a big board and a tow rope, you’ve got a couple of windows. For everyone else, this is a 16-day stretch with not much to get excited about. The energy is there, but the wind and size are just too much. It’s one of those runs where the ocean is tellin’ you to stay on the beach or maybe find a sheltered bay. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most days here.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Sun night, moderate winds from the W by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Mainly gales. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 11 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 8 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 20 | W 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3529 | 5467 | 3957 | 3629 | 2721 | 1976 | 1676 | 1143 | 1159 | 617 | 663 | 350 | 178 | 1114 | 2349 | 1102 | 440 | 551 | 3145 | 325 |
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 | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:40PM2.42m | 7:09AM2.40m | 7:41PM2.57m | 8:05AM2.55m | 8:29PM2.75m | 8:49AM2.73m | 9:09PM2.94m | 9:28AM2.90m | 9:45PM3.11m | 10:04AM3.05m | 10:20PM3.24m | 10:38AM3.16m | 10:54PM3.33m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:58AM1.04m | 1:22PM0.93m | 1:56AM0.88m | 2:13PM0.76m | 2:42AM0.68m | 2:56PM0.57m | 3:22AM0.48m | 3:34PM0.40m | 3:58AM0.30m | 4:10PM0.25m | 4:33AM0.16m | 4:45PM0.16m | ||||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | 9 | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | NW 14 | W 15 | NW 9 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | — | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | W 14 | W 13 | WNW 7 | W 12 | W 15 | W 14 | NNE 7 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | W 18 |
| kJ | 148 | 526 | 3957 | 3 | 88 | 45 | — | 20 | 20 | 617 | 280 | 74 | 78 | 72 | 140 | 134 | 367 | 144 | 75 | 325 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 | W 16 | — | W 24 | W 14 | W 23 | WNW 21 | WNW 20 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 160 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 209 | 47 | — | 11 | 89 | 41 | 151 | 136 | 28 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | — | — | — | W 24 | N 11 | NW 21 | NW 21 | N 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | — | — | — | 11 | 2 | 18 | 17 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | W 14 | WNW 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | WNW 4 | W 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 8 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 20 | W 5 |
| kJ | 3529 | 5467 | 3341 | 3629 | 2721 | 1976 | 1676 | 1143 | 1159 | 30 | 663 | 350 | 178 | 1114 | 2349 | 1102 | 440 | 551 | 3145 | 96 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 378 | 220 | 97 | 152 | 111 | 196 | 196 | 196 | 111 | 152 | 152 | 111 | 152 | 192 | 215 | 192 | 93 | 97 | 97 | 152 |
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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