Woodpecker Bay surf break

Woodpecker Bay surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Thursday 28 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Woodpecker Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Woodpecker Bay sea temperature is
15.3° C
(Which is 1.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Woodpecker Bay surf forecast from 28 May 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 28 May, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 31 May, 3PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, NNW swell with 3,063 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 28 May, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s 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 (May 28) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Woodpecker Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 31) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 10s period and expected on Sunday (May 31) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Thu 28th May)3.5ft (1.0m) 13s
Best Surf 9PM (Thu 28th May)3.5ft (1.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 3PM (Sun 31st May)13ft (4.0m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woodpecker Bay over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 171mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Tue afternoon).

Thursday
28
Friday
29
Saturday
30
Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
13
1
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
14
1.4
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.7
WSW
12
2.5
NNW
9
4
NNW
10
0.4
WSW
12
0.5
WSW
12
0.5
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
11
0.8
WSW
11
0.7
W
9
1.9
WSW
7
1.6
WSW
8
0.9
WSW
12
1.2
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
434
434
368
796
774
561
414
290
133
1228
3063
58
85
81
109
138
74
387
284
242
338
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
15
SSW
10
SSE
5
ENE
5
NNW
10
E
10
E
15
NE
15
ENE
30
NE
40
NNE
30
NNE
30
NNE
25
NE
20
NE
15
NE
5
NNE
20
SSW
10
SSW
5
SW
10
ENE
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
High Tide
8:56PM2.47m
9:16AM2.47m
9:36PM2.52m
9:55AM2.51m
10:13PM2.56m
10:34AM2.53m
10:51PM2.58m
11:12AM2.53m
11:29PM2.58m
11:51AM2.51m
00:07AM2.56m
12:30PM2.47m
00:47AM2.51m
Low Tide
2:44PM0.50m
3:06AM0.51m
3:25PM0.48m
3:47AM0.47m
4:04PM0.47m
4:26AM0.44m
4:43PM0.47m
5:05AM0.43m
5:21PM0.48m
5:44AM0.44m
5:59PM0.50m
6:23AM0.47m
6:38PM0.54m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:48
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:52
7:52
7:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:13
5:12
5:12
5:10
5:10
5:09
3
16
33
18
34
48
12
5
2
Temp °C
13
12
10
12
12
10
14
15
14
15
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
15
14
14
11
10
8
7
10
11
7
11
12
10
9
11
11
12
13
14
15
17
13
12
13
9
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
13
1
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
14
1.4
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
1.4
N
7
2.5
NNW
9
0.4
WSW
13
0.4
WSW
12
0.5
WSW
12
3
N
10
2.4
N
10
1.9
N
9
1.7
N
9
1.1
N
9
1.6
WSW
8
1.1
WSW
7
1.2
W
11
Energy kJ
434
434
368
796
774
561
414
290
176
1228
63
58
85
1581
1057
612
492
198
283
128
338
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
WSW
5
0.1
N
8
0.9
WSW
6
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
10
0.7
WSW
12
0.4
WSW
12
0.3
WSW
13
0.3
WNW
11
0.5
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
11
0.8
WSW
11
0.7
W
9
0.8
WSW
13
1
W
12
0.9
WSW
12
0.5
N
9
Energy kJ
29
1
66
2
2
2
2
2
133
59
32
25
81
109
138
74
229
284
242
44
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
8
0.1
N
12
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
10
0.1
N
10
0.1
N
16
0.4
WNW
10
0.6
WNW
9
0.5
W
8
0.5
WSW
11
0.1
NW
8
0.7
N
9
0.6
N
9
0.2
WSW
16
Energy kJ
1
3
1
2
2
2
5
40
62
37
71
2
85
60
25
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
WSW
6
0.8
N
5
4
NNW
10
3.5
N
10
3.5
N
10
1.9
WSW
7
Energy kJ
66
34
3063
2679
2207
387
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
1
1
3
4
1
4
4
3
1
1
1
2
1
2
Distance (km)
0
41
0
1
0
0
0
10
10
36
91
172
91
91
36
1
10
177
0
0
1
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
2
3
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
9
7
5
4
4
4
3
2
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
9
9
6
5
5
5
5
7
7
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
  • 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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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.

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