Whale Watch Reef surfForecast / Kaikoura and Marlborough / New Zealand

information circle48hr Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Tuesday 05 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Whale Watch Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Whale Watch Reef sea temperature is
13.6° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)

How big are the waves at Whale Watch Reef today?

The current surf forecast for Whale Watch Reef at 2AM is: 1.1m 7s primary swell from a Northeast direction (forecast issued at 11:00pm May 05). An open ocean swell of 0.8m 15s is not directed at the surf break. The wind direction is predicted to be cross-shore.

Time (NZST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (06 May)3ft (0.9m)7s
Afternoon (06 May)2.5ft (0.7m)7s
Evening (06 May)2ft (0.6m)6s

Table - waves today at Whale Watch Reef. (Swell directed towards the surf break)


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Fri afternoon).

Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
9 PM
12 AM
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
3 PM
6 PM
9 PM
12 AM
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
3 PM
6 PM
9 PM
12 AM
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
3 PM
6 PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
!
1
0
!
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span><span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span><span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span><span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span><span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
NNE
7
1.1
NE
7
1.1
NE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.7
NE
7
0.7
NE
7
0.7
NE
7
0.6
NNE
6
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
10
0.9
NNE
7
1.7
NNE
7
1.7
NNE
7
2
NNE
7
1.8
NNE
7
2.3
NNE
7
1.6
NNE
7
1.8
NNE
7
2.5
NNE
7
3
NNE
7
3
NE
8
3
NE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
285
118
105
83
81
46
47
44
25
33
40
34
78
277
277
378
352
503
229
343
615
967
1161
1193
Wind (km/h)
5
WNW
5
NNW
5
WNW
5
WNW
5
NNW
0
SSW
10
NE
10
N
5
NW
10
NW
10
WNW
5
NNW
10
N
5
N
10
NNE
10
N
15
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNW
10
N
15
N
25
NNE
35
NNE
25
NNE
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
7:25PM1.87m
7:52AM1.76m
8:04PM1.84m
8:37AM1.73m
8:46PM1.80m
9:21AM1.71m
Low Tide
1:41AM0.70m
1:49PM0.71m
2:23AM0.70m
2:32PM0.72m
3:08AM0.69m
3:18PM0.71m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:18
7:20
7:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:21
Temp °C
15
14
14
13
14
17
18
18
18
16
16
16
17
20
20
19
19
19
19
18
19
18
18
18
13
11
11
9
11
15
15
15
16
13
13
14
15
19
18
17
18
18
18
17
17
14
13
14
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
NE
7
1.1
NE
7
1.1
NE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
NE
7
0.7
NE
7
0.6
NNE
6
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
S
14
0.5
NNE
7
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
1.6
NNE
7
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
Energy kJ
139
118
105
83
81
273
47
44
25
111
98
26
67
67
67
67
39
257
38
40
40
40
40
40
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
NE
7
0.7
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
NE
5
0.4
ENE
10
0.5
S
14
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
Energy kJ
198
218
292
292
276
46
210
158
158
13
40
103
20
38
63
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
18
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
10
0.3
NNE
6
0.4
ENE
10
0.2
E
7
Energy kJ
57
15
17
17
18
18
19
33
8
34
4
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
1.7
NNE
7
1.7
NNE
7
2
NNE
7
1.8
NNE
7
2.3
NNE
7
1.6
NNE
7
1.8
NNE
7
2.5
NNE
7
3
NNE
7
3
NE
8
3
NE
8
Energy kJ
285
78
277
277
378
352
503
229
343
615
967
1161
1193
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
0
9
0
0
9
0
12
9
9
9
0
9
9
0
160
9
11
11
11
11
11
88
179
182
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
4
4
2
2
4
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
4
5
5
6
5
5
9
7
7
6
5
6
6
5
5
5
6
5
6
5
6
  • 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

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