Surf Forecasts:
Old Man's Hat surf forecast from 19 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 25 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 25 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, ESE swell with 243 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 25 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Old Man's Hat this week:
The surf forecast for Old Man's Hat over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 25) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Old Man's Hat in the next 16 days are 0.8m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 25) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 12s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 25th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 25th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 25th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Old Man's Hat over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat night, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Sun morning, calm by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | Thursday 24 | Friday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 10 | SE 11 | ENE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | E 16 | ESE 11 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | E 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 107 | 66 | 71 | 30 | 9 | 33 | 10 | 16 | 29 | 14 | 13 | 23 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 39 | 176 | 111 | 130 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:04AM1.30m | 12:31PM1.34m | 00:52AM1.26m | 1:20PM1.32m | 1:41AM1.24m | 2:09PM1.32m | 2:31AM1.24m | 2:59PM1.33m | 3:21AM1.25m | 3:47PM1.35m | 4:11AM1.28m | 4:35PM1.39m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:17AM0.32m | 6:48PM0.36m | 7:04AM0.35m | 7:36PM0.38m | 7:51AM0.35m | 8:26PM0.38m | 8:40AM0.34m | 9:16PM0.35m | 9:30AM0.32m | 10:05PM0.32m | 10:19AM0.29m | 10:53PM0.27m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 3 | -1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | ESE 11 | E 10 | NE 10 | S 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 18 | SSE 8 | ESE 11 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 325 | 66 | 71 | 24 | 2891 | 1294 | 561 | 373 | 242 | 54 | 280 | 23 | 216 | 142 | 100 | 516 | 388 | 248 | 132 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ENE 7 | SE 11 | SE 11 | NE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | S 16 | E 11 | SE 11 | S 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | S 16 |
| kJ | 107 | 21 | 56 | 30 | 3 | 33 | 10 | 8 | 29 | 14 | 83 | 2 | 5 | 58 | 20 | 37 | 176 | 111 | 322 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | — | — | ENE 10 | E 13 | SE 14 | ESE 13 | E 9 | E 10 | ESE 12 | E 11 | — | ESE 10 | E 16 | ESE 14 | S 15 | S 14 | E 13 |
| kJ | 37 | 9 | — | — | 9 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 2 | — | 20 | 20 | 39 | 41 | 103 | 130 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 2 | SW 5 | S 9 | S 11 | — | ENE 3 | — | — | — | S 8 | — | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 10 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 84 | 1533 | 3285 | — | 5 | — | — | — | 399 | — | 328 | 426 | 271 | 233 | 904 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 417 | 139 | 85 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 40 | 5 | 78 | 82 | 100 | 248 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Old Man's Hat Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Old Man's Hat provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Old Man's Hat can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Old Man's Hat 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 (Old Man's Hat) 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 Old Man's Hat 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.
Old Man's Hat is 47 km (29 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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