Surf Forecasts:
Woodpecker Bay surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with 11,804 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period with NW 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 13s. 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 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woodpecker Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, strong winds from the SW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | W 14 | W 11 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3755 | 1939 | 872 | 386 | 395 | 677 | 1935 | 7564 | 10208 | 11027 | 8205 | 7453 | 2674 | 4696 | 3454 | 2591 | 3144 | 2481 | 3555 | 4121 | 3669 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:45AM2.66m | 10:59PM2.80m | 11:20AM2.74m | 11:34PM2.86m | 11:55AM2.78m | 00:10AM2.87m | 12:31PM2.77m | 00:47AM2.83m | 1:09PM2.73m | 1:28AM2.74m | 1:52PM2.64m | 2:15AM2.61m | 2:41PM2.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:50PM0.26m | 5:12AM0.15m | 5:25PM0.19m | 5:47AM0.09m | 6:01PM0.16m | 6:23AM0.10m | 6:38PM0.17m | 7:01AM0.16m | 7:19PM0.24m | 7:43AM0.27m | 8:04PM0.34m | 8:31AM0.42m | 8:57PM0.48m | ||||||||
7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | |
mm | 24 | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 4 | -1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | N 9 | N 9 | — | — | — | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 11 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 |
3755 | 1939 | 872 | 386 | 125 | 677 | 952 | 25 | 6 | — | — | — | 2268 | 4696 | 3454 | 2591 | 704 | 2481 | 3555 | 4121 | 3669 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | WSW 13 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 22 | WSW 22 | — | — | — | NW 7 | — | — | — |
322 | 249 | 312 | 216 | 116 | 189 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | 46 | 45 | — | — | — | 289 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 24 | W 23 | WSW 22 | WNW 8 | WSW 20 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
11 | 41 | 93 | 101 | 395 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 7 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | — | — | W 14 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 286 | 1935 | 7564 | 10208 | 11027 | 8205 | 7453 | 2674 | 215 | — | — | 3144 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 172 | 172 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 198 | 172 | 172 | 184 | 187 | 261 | 184 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 177 | 177 | 172 | 15 |
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.











