Papatowai tides today
- Tide now 3.2 ft ↑ rising · high 6:07 pm (7.2 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 5:50–7:00 am fair day · 4/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 9.9 ft · 54 °F rough · 9.0 s from the southwest
- Wind · air 14 mph · 47 °F from the W, gusts 37 · drizzle
- Surf tomorrow 5.5–8.5 ft Good day · 6/10 · 6:00–10:00 am
- Sun 6:23 am–8:30 pm 14 h 7 min of daylight
- Moon 89% waning gibbous
Today in Papatowai there are high tides at 5:46 am (7.4 ft) and 6:07 pm (7.2 ft) and low tide at 12:00 pm. Tide coefficient 83. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 6:07 pm. The sun rises at 6:23 am and sets at 8:30 pm: 14 h 7 min of daylight. The moon is 89% illuminated (waning gibbous). Major solunar periods run from 2:37 am to 4:37 am and from 3:09 pm to 5:09 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 27 to 29. The sea is rough, with 9.9 ft waves. There's a moderate breeze from the west (14 mph). Drizzle, 47 °F.
Fishing in Papatowai today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- High tide at 5:46 am, coefficient 83
- Sunrise at 6:23 am
- Falling pressure (−0.13 inHg in 24 h), moderate offshore wind (15 mph) and rough sea: 9.4 ft waves
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 83 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 5:50 am to 6:50 am, combines the 5:46 am high tide, sunrise and falling pressure, though with moderate wind and rough seas.
Beach day in Papatowai
Is it a beach day?
- Sun and clouds
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Low tide at 12:00 pm: more sand
- Feels like 40 °F: chilly for the beach
- Rain (0.28 in)
- Fresh offshore wind (19 mph): it blows floats and inflatables out to sea
Dangerous surf during beach hours. Stay out if the red flag is up, and never swim where there is no lifeguard.
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Dangerous · 11 ft
11 ft waves every 9 s: dangerous for swimming. Stay out if the red flag is up. High rip current risk. If you're caught in a rip current, don't swim against it: swim parallel to shore and wave for help. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 54 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 19 mph
Fresh offshore wind (19 mph): blowing sand. Skip the inflatables: offshore wind carries them out to sea.
- Tide & sand 12:00 pm
Low tide at 12:00 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 5:46 am and 6:07 pm.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Papatowai
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Tautuku Beach 2.3 mi · SW
- Parking
- Waipāti Beach 5.9 mi · SW
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Papatowai
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Papatowai
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ High tide 5:46 am 7.4 ft · coef. 83
- ▼ Low tide 12:00 pm 1.1 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 6:07 pm 7.2 ft · coef. 81
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 3 h 52 min to high tide at 6:07 pm.
Tide coefficient 83 for the 5:46 am high tide and 81 for the 6:07 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 6.3 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: an average range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on August 14 (7.8 ft) and the lowest, on December 26 (0.4 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
Heights above chart datum (CD), the zero of that port's nautical charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. chart datum (CD)
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 9 to 11 (coefficient 87, 6.7 ft range). The smallest, from October 18 to 19 (coefficient 43, 3.4 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Thu 29 | 6:23 am · 8:30 pm | High tide 5:46 am · 7.4 ft | Low tide 12:00 pm · 1.1 ft | High tide 6:07 pm · 7.2 ft | — | Coef. 83 | 89% | Major periods 2:37 am · 3:09 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 6:21 am · 8:31 pm | Low tide 12:24 am · 0.9 ft | High tide 6:41 am · 7.2 ft | Low tide 12:53 pm · 1.4 ft | High tide 7:02 pm · 7.0 ft | Coef. 79 | 81% | Major periods 3:42 am · 4:14 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 6:20 am · 8:33 pm | Low tide 1:21 am · 1.1 ft | High tide 7:41 am · 7.0 ft | Low tide 1:51 pm · 1.6 ft | High tide 8:04 pm · 6.8 ft | Coef. 73 | 71% | Major periods 4:46 am · 5:17 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:18 am · 8:34 pm | Low tide 2:23 am · 1.3 ft | High tide 8:46 am · 6.9 ft | Low tide 2:54 pm · 1.8 ft | High tide 9:11 pm · 6.7 ft | Coef. 69 | 60% | Major periods 5:47 am · 6:15 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:17 am · 8:36 pm | Low tide 3:28 am · 1.4 ft | High tide 9:53 am · 6.8 ft | Low tide 4:01 pm · 1.9 ft | High tide 10:20 pm · 6.7 ft | Coef. 67 | Last quarter | Major periods 6:43 am · 7:09 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:15 am · 8:37 pm | Low tide 4:35 am · 1.4 ft | High tide 10:59 am · 6.8 ft | Low tide 5:07 pm · 1.8 ft | High tide 11:25 pm · 6.8 ft | Coef. 69 | 38% | Major periods 7:34 am · 7:59 pm | Medium |
| Wed 4 | 6:14 am · 8:39 pm | Low tide 5:37 am · 1.4 ft | High tide 12:00 pm · 6.8 ft | Low tide 6:07 pm · 1.7 ft | — | Coef. 71 | 28% | Major periods 8:22 am · 8:45 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above chart datum (CD). Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Papatowai has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Waikawa Harbour (LINZ), 16 mi away. On the open coast the difference is usually a few minutes and inches; inside estuaries, rivers and enclosed bays it can be much larger. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the Bluff reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: This work is based on Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand data which are licensed by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Modified: secondary port of the LINZ Secondary Ports table 2026-27 (https://www.linz.govt.nz/products-services/tides-and-tidal-streams/tide-predictions), computed by TidePlanet with the LINZ method from the harmonic constants of Bluff in the Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database).
The sea at Papatowai
Sea stateSea state: rough
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common5.0 ft
- Significant9.9 ft
- Highest expectedHighest20 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 20 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 20 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces southeast and the wind comes off the land at an angle: calmer water near the shore, and bait and boats drift out to sea.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves build over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Friday 30: 14 ft with a period of 9 s, from the southwest (very rough).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water is steady these days, with no sudden changes.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+2.1 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 1:57 pm (local time).
Surf in Papatowai today
Surf today
Good- 4.8–7.3 ft surf at the shore, a good size with some punch
- Big surf (7.3 ft): for experienced surfers
- 8.2 ft swell at 9 s from the southwest, a bit short
- Moderate offshore wind (15 mph): it holds up and grooms the waves
- Falling tide (low tide at 12:00 pm)
Big surf: for experienced surfers only. If in doubt, stay on the beach.
- Light: First light 5:50 am · sunrise 6:23 am · sunset 8:30 pm · last light 9:03 pm
- Tide: high 5:46 am (7.4 ft), low 12:00 pm (1.1 ft) and high 6:07 pm (7.2 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 54.3 °F: a 5/4 fullsuit with booties (and a hood if it’s windy).
- Energy: 998 kJ · High power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 6:00 am to 10:00 am, has a good size and light offshore wind, though with big surf.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Follow the flags and the lifeguards, and don’t paddle out if the surf is above your level: this score is a guide, not a substitute for what you see when you get there.
Diving in Papatowai today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: poor- Slack water around low tide (12:00 pm): little current from 11:40 am to 12:20 pm
- Some tidal current
- 7.9 ft swell at 9 s from the southwest: heavy surge on the bottom
- Moderate offshore wind (15 mph): it pushes surface swimmers away from shore
- 1.0 mph current toward the east-northeast (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
Not a day for shore diving: swell, wind, current or storms during the best window. If you go, go with a dive shop and only if they give the OK.
- Slack water today: high tide 5:46 am (5:20–6:10 am), low tide 12:00 pm (11:40 am–12:20 pm) and high tide 6:07 pm (5:40–6:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: poor. Swell (up to 8.2 ft at 9 s) and rain (0.45 in) over the last few days have stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 54.3 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 9:03 pm. Waning gibbous (89%): a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 9:50 am to 12:50 pm, combines slack water at low tide and the sun high, though with tidal current, a big swell, moderate wind and current.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
We have no dive sites, dive shops or wrecks on record within 12 mi of Papatowai.
If you know one, you can add it to OpenStreetMap and it will show up here after the next update. Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Weather in Papatowai
Now in Papatowai
- Low / high
- 39 / 47 °F
- Rain
- 0.40 in · 100%
- Clouds
- 52%
- Humidity
- 84%
- Dew pointDew point
- 42 °F
- Visibility
- 8.9 mi
- UV indexUV
- 3 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 13
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (−0.01 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: +0.73 inHg. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Drizzle | Light drizzle | Light drizzle | Drizzle | Drizzle | Drizzle | Light drizzle | Light drizzle |
| Temperature | 46° | 44° | 42° | 43° | 46° | 47° | 45° | 40° |
| Wind (mph) | 13 W | 13 W | 15 W | 15 W | 14 W | 15 W | 19 W | 16 WNW |
| Gusts | 33 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 38 | 42 | 37 |
| Waves | 8.5 ft | 8.9 ft | 9.4 ft | 9.6 ft | 9.7 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 11 ft |
| Rain | 0.03 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.02 in | 0.03 in | 0.03 in | 0.01 in | 0.01 in |
- 3:00 pm 47° 15 W 10 ft
- 6:00 pm 45° 19 W 10 ft
- 9:00 pm 40° 16 WNW 11 ft
- 12:00 am 40° 15 WNW 10 ft
- 3:00 am 38° 12 WNW 10 ft
- 6:00 am 37° 12 WNW 10.0 ft
- 9:00 am 40° 16 WNW 11 ft
- 12:00 pm 43° 21 WSW 13 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 39 / 47 °F | 19 mph W | 11 ft | 5:46 am · 6:07 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 37 / 43 °F | 22 mph W | 14 ft | 6:41 am · 7:02 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 39 / 56 °F | 13 mph WNW | 14 ft | 7:41 am · 8:04 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 49 / 68 °F | 15 mph NNW | 7.3 ft | 8:46 am · 9:11 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 50 / 56 °F | 11 mph WSW | 4.7 ft | 9:53 am · 10:20 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 46 / 58 °F | 10 mph ENE | 5.5 ft | 10:59 am · 11:25 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 51 / 69 °F | 8 mph N | 5.6 ft | 12:00 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 55 / 73 °F | 12 mph NW | 3.3 ft | 12:24 am · 12:54 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 48 / 55 °F | 12 mph SW | 4.5 ft | 1:16 am · 1:44 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 44 / 56 °F | 7 mph ENE | 5.5 ft | 2:04 am · 2:29 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 44 / 57 °F | 16 mph WSW | 10.0 ft | 2:49 am · 3:11 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 42 / 52 °F | 11 mph W | 9.8 ft | 3:32 am · 3:51 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 46 / 60 °F | 16 mph WNW | 9.2 ft | 4:13 am · 4:29 pm | |
| Wed 11 | 51 / 58 °F | 18 mph WSW | 9.2 ft | 4:53 am · 5:07 pm |
- Fri 30 Heavy drizzle 37° / 43° 14 ft
- Sat 31 Light drizzle 39° / 56° 14 ft
- Sun 1 Light rain 49° / 68° 7.3 ft
- Mon 2 Light rain 50° / 56° 4.7 ft
- Tue 3 Light drizzle 46° / 58° 5.5 ft
- Wed 4 Light drizzle 51° / 69° 5.6 ft
- Thu 5 Drizzle 55° / 73° 3.3 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- The models Partly agree · medium confidence: unsure about rain today. See the models →
- Outlook The next few weeks look normal for the time of year. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, cooler than normal for late October (−11.5 °F; normal high: 58 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 1:57 pm (local time).
The sun in Papatowai
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 5:10 am
- Full dark 9:43 pm
- Civil dawn 5:50 am
- Civil dusk 9:03 pm
- Solar noon 1:26 pm (57° high)
- Daylight 14 h 7 min (+3 min)
- Evening golden hour 7:48 pm
- Full dark 9:43 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,346,958 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Papatowai
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,442 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 2:37–4:37 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 3:09–5:09 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 7:06–8:06 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Mon, Nov 2 · 9:29 amNov 2 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 8:03 pmNov 9 in 11 days
- First quarter Wed, Nov 18 · 12:48 amNov 18 in 20 days
- Full moon Wed, Nov 25 · 3:54 amNov 25 in 27 days
Perigee on October 29, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 27 to 29: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Papatowai
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
We have no piers, boat ramps or tackle shops on record within 9.3 mi of Papatowai.
If you know one, you can add it to OpenStreetMap and it will show up here after the next update. Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Gentle slopeThe bottom slopes gently: 16 ft deep 0.3 mi from shore and 33 ft at 0.7 mi.
From the shoreline (0.7 mi from Papatowai) out to sea, heading southeast.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep0.3 mi
- 33 ft deep0.7 mi
- 66 ft deep1.2 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 0.3 mi): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
- Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
- Diving. Shallow near shore: you only reach 33 ft at 0.7 mi. For dives deeper than 33 ft, go by boat.
Rough estimate: here the data comes in cells of about 0.3 mi and misses details near shore (rocks, sandbars, small coves).
Source: NOAA ETOPO 2022 (CC0), cells of about 0.3 mi; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Tides near PapatowaiTides nearby
- Maclennan1.0 mi
- Tautuku3.0 mi
- Ratanui9.4 mi
- Hinahina11 mi
- Pounawea12 mi
- New Haven13 mi
- Niagara17 mi
- Waikawa17 mi
- Kaka Point19 mi
- Port Molyneux19 mi
Papatowai at a glance
- Town or city of about 6,593 people. Coordinates: 46.561° S, 169.471° E.
- It is 68 mi southwest of Dunedin, the main place in Otago. The sun rises 3 min later and sets 6 min later than in Dunedin.
- The nearest tide station, Waikawa Harbour, is 16 mi to the southwest.
- Its coast faces southeast.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Tautuku Beach (2.3 mi).
Questions about PapatowaiQuestions
What time is high tide today in Papatowai?
Today in Papatowai there are high tides at 5:46 am (7.4 ft) and 6:07 pm (7.2 ft) and low tide at 12:00 pm. Tide coefficient 83.
What time is sunset today in Papatowai?
At 8:30 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 9:03 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Papatowai?
At 6:21 am. First light comes at 5:08 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 89% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 8:03 pm.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 27 to 29, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 2:37–4:37 am, Minor 7:06–8:06 am, Major 3:09–5:09 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Papatowai?
Drizzle, from 39 °F to 47 °F, with a moderate breeze from the west (14 mph) and a 100% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Papatowai?
Rough (Douglas 5): 9.9 ft waves with a period of 9.0 s from the southwest. The water is 54.3 °F.
When is the best time to visit Papatowai?
The best time to visit Papatowai is from January to February: highs of 66 °F, about 10 rainy days a month and 7 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: Waikawa Harbour secondary port, computed by TidePlanet with the time and height differences of the LINZ secondary ports table on Bluff. This work is based on Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand data which are licensed by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand for re-use under the CC BY 4.0 licence; via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).