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Surf Forecasts:

Whale Watch Reef surfForecast / Kaikoura and Marlborough / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Wednesday 07 Jan 2026 NZDT
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
16.7° C
 (Which is 1.5°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whale Watch Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Whale Watch Reef over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 07) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whale Watch Reef in the next 12 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jan 11) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 10s period and expected on Monday (Jan 12) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Wed 7th Jan)3ft (0.9m) 5s
Best Surf 1PM (Sun 11th Jan)8ft (2.4m) 8s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sun 11th Jan)8ft (2.4m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Watch Reef over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the SSW by Mon morning).

Wednesday
07
Thursday
08
Friday
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tue
13
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.1
NNE
0.4
ENE
0.4
ENE
0.4
ENE
0.4
ENE
0.4
ENE
0.9
NNE
0.4
ENE
0.3
NNE
0.2
ENE
0.6
NNE
0.4
NNE
0.8
NNE
1.6
NNE
1.5
NNE
2
NNE
0.6
NNE
0.3
NNE
0.7
NNE
0.5
NE
0.6
NE
Period(s) (?)596887477746878865444
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)66251321191834169512168425128049932514915
Wind
(km/h)
5
N
10
S
5
SSE
5
SW
10
SSE
15
ENE
5
N
10
W
20
S
10
NE
5
NNE
20
WSW
10
N
10
N
25
NW
15
NNW
35
SSW
15
ENE
10
NNE
5
SE
10
ENE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glasscross-
off		glassglasscross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
off		oncross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		crosscrossoffcross-
on		onglasscross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
8:26AM
2.11
8:57PM
2.00
9:20AM
2.03
9:52PM
1.96
10:15AM
1.97
10:45PM
1.93
11:09AM
1.91
11:36PM
1.90
12:00PM
1.87
12:26AM
1.88
12:49PM
1.83
1:16AM
1.88
1:37PM
1.80
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:12AM
0.27
2:47PM
0.34
3:04AM
0.33
3:39PM
0.39
3:56AM
0.42
4:31PM
0.45
4:50AM
0.53
5:24PM
0.52
5:46AM
0.62
6:16PM
0.58
6:42AM
0.70
7:04PM
0.63
7:38AM
0.74
Wednesday
07
Thursday
08
Friday
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tue
13
Sunrise-5:56--5:56--5:58--5:58--6:01--6:01--6:03-
Sunset--9:05--9:04--9:04--9:04--9:04--9:02--9:02
clear
clear
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
---------------3-----
Temp. °C181919181920222624182326242728221516151919
Feels °C (?)19171918181821242118232223242317913131818
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Whale Watch Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Whale Watch Reef at:
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Information about the Whale Watch Reef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Whale Watch Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Whale Watch Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whale Watch Reef 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 (Whale Watch Reef) 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 Whale Watch Reef 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.

Whale Watch Reef is 101 km (63 miles) from the city of Blenheim. If you plan a holiday in Kaikoura and Marlborough, look for hotels and other accommodation in Blenheim. Blenheim has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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