Whale Watch Reef surfForecast / Kaikoura and Marlborough / New Zealand

information circle48hr Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Monday 27 Apr 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
13.8° 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 3AM is: 0.4m 3s primary swell from a North-northeast direction and 0.3m 3s secondary swell from a Northeast direction (forecast issued at 11:00pm April 27). An open ocean swell of 1.2m 10s is not directed at the surf break. The wind direction is predicted to be cross-shore.

Time (NZST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (28 Apr)1ft (0.3m)4s
Afternoon (28 Apr)3.5ft (1.1m)5s
Evening (28 Apr)3ft (0.9m)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. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
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)
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
<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><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)
0.5
NNE
3
0.4
NNE
3
0.4
NNE
3
0.1
E
11
0.3
NE
4
0.9
NNE
5
1.1
NNE
5
1.2
NNE
6
0.9
NE
6
0.7
NE
6
0.6
NE
5
0.6
NNE
5
0.6
NNE
6
0.6
NNE
6
0.6
NNE
6
0.7
NNE
6
0.4
NE
4
0.2
N
5
0.1
NE
6
0.1
NE
6
2.3
S
12
2.5
S
14
2.4
S
15
2.2
S
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
7
5
3
2
2
33
71
96
49
31
22
18
21
22
23
27
5
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
Wind (km/h)
10
N
5
NW
5
NW
5
NNW
5
W
10
S
5
S
5
WNW
5
NNW
5
NW
5
W
5
WSW
5
WSW
0
ESE
5
NNE
5
NNW
10
W
20
SSW
15
SSW
5
SW
0
S
10
E
15
ENE
20
NE
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
glassy
cross-on
on
on
High Tide
1:36AM1.90m
2:01PM1.86m
2:26AM1.88m
2:52PM1.87m
3:15AM1.87m
3:42PM1.90m
Low Tide
7:22PM0.50m
7:51AM0.50m
8:18PM0.54m
8:39AM0.53m
9:12PM0.56m
9:28AM0.55m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:11
7:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:31
5:30
Temp °C
16
16
17
16
17
17
17
17
18
17
15
14
15
18
19
18
17
11
10
11
11
12
12
10
14
14
15
14
16
15
16
16
17
16
14
12
14
17
17
17
14
6
6
9
10
10
9
6
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
S
11
1.3
S
11
1.2
S
10
1.1
S
10
1
S
9
0.9
S
9
0.9
S
9
0.9
NE
6
0.9
NE
6
0.7
NE
6
0.6
NE
5
0.6
NNE
5
0.6
S
8
0.6
NNE
6
0.3
SSE
7
0.3
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
13
0.3
SE
11
0.6
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
2.3
S
12
2.5
S
14
2.4
S
15
2.2
S
15
Energy kJ
502
389
300
233
173
129
126
47
49
31
22
18
41
22
10
36
102
19
131
181
1670
2570
2543
2177
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.3
NE
3
0.2
NNE
3
0.1
E
11
0.5
NE
4
0.8
NE
5
0.8
S
8
0.5
SSE
8
0.5
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.6
NNE
6
0.5
S
7
0.3
SSW
7
0.3
SSE
7
0.3
NNE
5
0.2
ENE
4
0.3
SE
11
0.3
SE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
Energy kJ
2
2
2
1
2
9
32
89
38
33
30
29
21
27
11
10
5
2
18
17
10
10
10
9
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
24
0.5
S
8
0.4
SSW
8
0.4
SSW
8
0.4
SSW
8
0.2
S
20
0.2
S
15
0.2
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
7
0.4
NE
4
0.2
N
5
0.1
NE
6
0.1
NE
6
Energy kJ
2
2
4
5
11
37
23
22
22
30
17
19
10
5
2
1
1
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
NNE
3
0.4
NNE
3
0.4
NNE
3
0.3
NE
4
0.9
NNE
5
1.1
NNE
5
1.2
NNE
6
0.6
NNE
6
0.7
NNE
6
0.4
W
3
1.5
S
5
1.6
S
6
1.6
S
7
Energy kJ
7
5
3
2
33
71
96
23
27
2
106
209
240
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
2
4
3
Distance (km)
9
9
9
9
9
0
0
0
0
11
11
11
11
11
12
9
9
61
11
9
9
88
25
116
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
9
9
8
6
5
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
8
9
9
9
8
7
6
9
9
8
6
5
5
  • 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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