
Surf Forecasts:
Woodpecker Bay surf forecast from 20 Oct 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 23 Oct, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 27 Oct, 10AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, WNW swell with 4,329 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 22 Oct, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Woodpecker Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Woodpecker Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Oct 22) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 24s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Woodpecker Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Oct 27) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Oct 22) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 22nd Oct) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Fri 23rd Oct) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Tue 27th Oct) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woodpecker Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 48mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the N by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 21 | Thursday 22 | Friday 23 | Saturday 24 | Sunday 25 | Monday 26 | Tuesday 27 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | W 14 | W 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | NW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1663 | 994 | 631 | 491 | 462 | 579 | 477 | 645 | 2007 | 1415 | 1076 | 1121 | 874 | 2136 | 1825 | 2137 | 1821 | 1153 | 4329 | 3314 | 1189 | |
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-off | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 8:03PM2.25m | 8:34AM2.27m | 8:51PM2.41m | 9:19AM2.44m | 9:34PM2.58m | 10:00AM2.61m | 10:15PM2.75m | 10:39AM2.76m | 10:57PM2.88m | 11:19AM2.88m | 11:39PM2.96m | 12:01PM2.94m | 00:23AM2.97m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:48PM0.82m | 2:19AM0.66m | 2:39PM0.67m | 3:05AM0.49m | 3:23PM0.49m | 3:47AM0.31m | 4:05PM0.32m | 4:28AM0.16m | 4:46PM0.17m | 5:09AM0.06m | 5:28PM0.06m | 5:51AM0.02m | 6:12PM0.01m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | 8:01 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 46 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | W 14 | W 13 | WSW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | NW 11 |
1663 | 994 | 631 | 491 | 462 | 579 | 477 | 313 | 2007 | 1415 | 1076 | 1121 | 874 | 2136 | 1825 | 2137 | 1821 | 424 | 4329 | 3314 | 1189 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 13 | N 13 | W 23 | W 22 | SW 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | W 10 | WSW 20 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 18 | — | — | WSW 14 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | — | — | WSW 10 |
3 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 31 | 291 | 645 | 92 | 507 | 379 | 104 | 851 | — | — | 437 | 104 | 97 | — | — | 570 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 12 | N 12 | N 12 | W 24 | WSW 20 | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | — | — | — | WSW 18 | — | — | — | WSW 13 |
— | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 133 | 387 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 106 | — | — | — | 246 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | — | — | — |
— | — | 60 | 77 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1153 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 203 | 38 | 180 | 198 | 0 | 0 | 232 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 36 | 29 | 177 | 177 | 198 | 169 | 194 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Woodpecker Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Woodpecker Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Woodpecker Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Woodpecker Bay 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 (Woodpecker Bay) 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 Woodpecker Bay 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.










