New Brighton Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 43.47° S 172.72° E

New Brighton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's New Brighton Beach sea temperature is
10.2° C
0.7° 

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


New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 21s period, SSE swell with 578 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period with NE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for New Brighton Beach this week:

The surf forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at New Brighton Beach in the next 16 days are 0.8m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) 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 1.5m 19s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Mon 13th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 5s
Best Surf12PM (Sat 18th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Most Powerful 9PM (Sat 18th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 21s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.


Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a long look at New Brighton Beach, and it’s a bit of a slow starter, but if you’ve got patience, the second half of this forecast window is where it’s at.

Right now, and for the first several days, it’s a write-off. The water’s sitting at 50°F, which is about average for this time of year, but the waves are tiny and messy. We’re looking at 1ft to 3ft of weak, short-period windswell, and the wind is all over the place – mostly onshore or cross-shore. The combined energy is hardly registering, with values like 26 and 35, so there’s just nothing to work with. This flat spell runs right through until the 15th of July.

Things start to look a little more promising on Thursday the 16th. We get a glassy morning with a 1.0ft, 13-second swell from the east, and the energy ticks up to 56. It’s not big, but it’s clean. That’s the first real sign of life.

Now, the first standout is coming up on Friday the 17th. The morning kicks off with a clean 3ft, 16-second groundswell from the east, and the energy jumps to 401. The wind is offshore from the WSW, so it’ll be nicely shaped. The afternoon is even better; the swell hits 3ft, still a long 16-second period, and the energy is up to 507 with light offshore winds. It’s small, but it’s quality. Saturday the 18th morning holds similar conditions, but the afternoon is the real gem – a 2ft swell from the SSE with a very long 23-second period, and the energy is a solid 793. The wind is a clean offshore from the WSW, making for some seriously lined-up waves. That’s your best bet for the first week.

We get a few smaller, clean days after that, but the real big-hitter is Thursday the 23rd of July. The morning has a solid 6ft, 11-second swell from the east, with a massive 858 energy reading. The wind is light and cross-off. Then the afternoon is a monster, but it’s a problem. We’re looking at 10ft of swell from the ENE with a 12-second period, and the energy is a staggering 3680. With glassy conditions, it’s a beautiful sight, but that’s expert-only territory. For most of us, it’s going to be too big.

The last few days of the window, from the 25th to the 27th of July, are the real payoff. You’ve got consistent 5ft to 6ft easterly swells with a solid 12-second period, and the energy is sitting between 700 and 1200. The wind is offshore or glassy for most of those sessions. The Saturday the 25th afternoon with glassy conditions and 6ft of east swell is a dead-set standout. Get on it.

So, to sum it up: forget the first week. The action starts on the 17th, but the absolute best, cleanest, and most consistent surf will be from the 25th to the 27th of July. The crowds at New Brighton Beach can be *sometimes* busy, so with waves this good, expect company.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed afternoon, min 5°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
2
2
2
2
3
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.8
NNE
4
0.9
NNE
4
0.4
NE
8
1
NNE
4
0.7
N
4
0.7
NNE
4
0.2
E
12
0.4
NE
7
0.2
E
13
0.3
E
13
0.5
E
16
0.7
E
16
0.9
E
16
1
E
16
1
E
15
1
E
16
0.6
SSE
23
0.8
SSE
21
0.5
SSE
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
26
14
16
21
26
29
13
14
12
14
14
31
127
267
401
507
464
496
404
519
146
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
10
NE
20
N
35
N
10
NW
20
N
20
NW
10
WNW
10
SW
15
SW
10
WSW
5
SW
5
ENE
0
NNW
10
WSW
5
SSW
15
WSW
15
SSW
5
WSW
15
NE
5
WNW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
glassy
on
glassy
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
2:49AM1.96m
3:23PM2.18m
3:45AM2.02m
4:19PM2.24m
4:42AM2.05m
5:15PM2.26m
5:38AM2.06m
6:10PM2.24m
6:34AM2.05m
7:05PM2.18m
7:31AM2.01m
8:00PM2.09m
8:28AM1.95m
Low Tide
8:43PM0.16m
9:02AM0.03m
9:42PM0.10m
10:00AM-0.03m
10:40PM0.05m
10:58AM-0.07m
11:37PM0.01m
11:56AM-0.07m
00:33AM0.00m
12:52PM-0.04m
1:28AM0.02m
1:48PM0.02m
2:22AM0.06m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:58
7:58
7:56
7:56
7:56
7:54
7:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:09
5:09
5:10
5:12
5:13
5:14
5:15
5:15
 mm
1
1
3
Temp °C
9
9
12
13
13
15
16
15
11
12
10
10
10
10
10
12
9
6
6
5
10
Feels °C
5
5
5
5
7
11
11
13
9
9
8
8
8
9
7
9
6
2
3
0
7
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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 New Brighton Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for New Brighton Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at New Brighton Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our New Brighton Beach 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 (New Brighton Beach) 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 New Brighton Beach 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.

Are you planning a holiday in Canterbury? If you are looking for accommodation near New Brighton Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Canterbury, consider staying in Christchurch which is 10 km (6 miles) away.

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