Surf Breaks
New Zealand (466)
West Coast South Island (21)
Punakaiki

Punakaiki Surf Photo: 'good strong swell' by Michelle

Lat Long: 42.11° S 171.33° E

Issued: 11 am 21 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in hr min

Today's Punakaiki sea temperature is

14.3° C

Slightly warmer than usual

Punakaiki surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.

16 Day Forecast Hourly Wave Energy Map Wave Height Map Wind Map

Webcams Live Weather Wave Buoys

Tides Sea Temperature

Guide Reviews Photos (5)

Share this surf break

Share this link via

Or copy link

Go Pro for an ad-free experience

Upload new photo for Punakaiki | for another surf break

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	NE		WSW	NW	NNW
	13 s	glass		13 s	8 s	13 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 March at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	W		WSW	NW	N
	13 s	cross- on		13 s	8 s	7 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 March at 12 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	W		WSW	NW	NNW
	12 s	on		12 s	8 s	6 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 March at 3 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	WSW		WSW	NW	NNW
	12 s	glass		12 s	8 s	12 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 March at 6 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	NE		WSW	NW	NNW
	12 s	glass		12 s	7 s	13 s

Open ocean wave model on 12 March at 9 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	NE		WSW	NW	N
	12 s	glass		12 s	7 s	6 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 March at 12 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	ENE		WSW	NW	N
	12 s	glass		12 s	7 s	6 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 March at 3 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	E		WSW	NW	WSW
	11 s	off		11 s	7 s	18 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 March at 6 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	E		WSW	NW	WSW
	11 s	glass		11 s	7 s	16 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 March at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	W		WSW	WSW	NW
	11 s	cross- on		11 s	16 s	7 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 March at 12 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	WSW		WSW	WSW	NW
	11 s	on		11 s	15 s	7 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 March at 3 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	S		WSW	WSW	NW
	14 s	glass		11 s	15 s	7 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 March at 6 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	ESE		WSW	WSW	NW
	14 s	glass		11 s	14 s	7 s

Open ocean wave model on 13 March at 9 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	E		WSW	WSW	NW
	14 s	glass		11 s	14 s	7 s

Open ocean wave model on 14 March at 12 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	ENE		WSW	NNW	NNW
	13 s	glass		13 s	7 s	12 s

Open ocean wave model on 14 March at 3 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	ENE		WSW	NNW	NNW
	13 s	off		13 s	6 s	12 s

Open ocean wave model on 14 March at 6 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	Swell 3	3 hours later
	WSW	NE		WSW	NNW	NNW
	13 s	glass		13 s	6 s	12 s

Open ocean wave model on 14 March at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Punakaiki around the time the photo was taken

Image captured 2 hours and 31 minutes before high water (rising spring tide). Tide height was 2.0m (6.5 ft). Range 3.52m (11.5 ft). Toggle tide graph

Back to photos

Previous photo

Next photo

Previous photo

Next photo

Punakaiki Surf Photo: 'good strong swell' by Michelle

overhead

3.0

Use stars to vote

User: Michelle (47 photos)

Country: New Zealand (2470 photos)

Photo taken at: 9:15 am 13 Mar 2021