Whale Watch Reef surfForecast / Kaikoura and Marlborough / New Zealand

information circle48hr Weather and Surf, issued 5 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 12AM is: 0.4m 3s primary swell from a Northeast direction and 0.1m 11s secondary swell from a East direction (forecast issued at 05:00pm April 27). An open ocean swell of 1.3m 11s is not directed at the surf break. The wind direction is predicted to be cross-shore.

Time (NZST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (28 Apr)0.5ft (0.1m)11s
Afternoon (28 Apr)3.5ft (1.1m)6s
Evening (28 Apr)4ft (1.2m)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

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thu
30
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
9 PM
12 AM
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
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><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)
0.1
E
11
0.5
NNE
3
0.5
NNE
3
0.4
NE
3
0.4
NNE
3
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
1
NNE
5
1.1
NNE
6
1.3
NNE
6
1.2
NNE
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
NE
4
0.5
NE
4
0.3
NE
5
0.1
NE
6
1.5
S
7
1.9
S
13
0.1
N
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2
5
7
3
3
2
2
40
74
111
90
31
21
19
22
24
23
15
7
3
1
0
0
5
Wind (km/h)
15
NE
15
NNE
10
N
5
NW
5
NW
5
NW
0
WNW
5
S
5
S
5
WNW
5
NNW
5
NNW
5
WNW
5
WSW
5
SW
5
SSW
5
NNE
10
NNW
10
WNW
25
SSW
20
S
10
S
5
SSE
10
ENE
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
off
glassy
on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
High Tide
1:08PM1.88m
1:36AM1.90m
2:01PM1.86m
2:26AM1.88m
2:52PM1.87m
3:15AM1.87m
Low Tide
7:22PM0.50m
7:51AM0.50m
8:18PM0.54m
8:39AM0.53m
9:12PM0.56m
9:28AM0.55m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<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>
5:35
5:34
5:31
5:30
1
Temp °C
16
16
16
16
17
16
17
17
18
17
18
17
15
15
15
19
18
17
17
12
11
11
11
12
13
13
14
14
16
14
16
15
17
16
17
16
14
13
13
17
16
15
15
7
7
9
10
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
S
12
1.5
S
12
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
0.4
SSW
7
0.4
SSW
14
0.5
S
13
0.6
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
13
1.5
S
7
1.9
S
13
2
S
14
Energy kJ
668
625
502
389
300
233
173
129
126
47
49
31
21
19
41
24
18
62
92
137
131
199
1207
1572
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.2
NNE
3
0.2
NNE
3
0.1
E
11
0.6
NE
4
0.8
NE
5
0.8
S
8
0.5
SSE
8
0.5
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.4
SSE
8
0.6
NNE
6
0.5
S
7
0.3
SSE
7
0.3
SSE
7
0.5
NE
4
0.3
NE
5
0.3
SE
11
0.6
SSW
13
0.3
SE
10
0.2
ESE
10
Energy kJ
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
12
32
89
38
33
30
19
22
27
10
10
7
3
18
139
16
10
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
S
7
0.3
SE
11
0.1
NE
6
0.3
SE
10
0.1
N
16
Energy kJ
2
2
4
5
11
37
23
22
22
30
17
19
10
15
19
1
17
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
NNE
3
0.5
NNE
3
0.4
NE
3
0.4
NNE
3
0.3
NE
3
1
NNE
5
1.1
NNE
6
1.3
NNE
6
1.2
NNE
6
0.6
NNE
6
0.7
NE
4
0.3
W
3
1.3
S
5
1.7
S
6
Energy kJ
5
7
3
3
2
40
74
111
90
23
15
1
75
233
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
3
4
Distance (km)
25
25
9
9
9
9
9
0
0
0
0
11
11
11
11
11
19
9
9
147
61
19
9
25
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
8
7
6
6
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
8
7
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
8
9
9
8
7
8
8
6
6
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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