Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 21s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 22s period, SSE swell with 780 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 3AM (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 3AM. 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 0.9m 22s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 13th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 22s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s talk New Brighton Beach. The first 5 days of this 16-day run are a total write-off. No decent surf until Friday July 17th. The water temp is 51°F, pretty much normal for this time of year.
From Sunday July 12th through Thursday July 16th, it’s tiny and weak. Waves under 2 feet, short periods, messy wind, and the combined energy is barely registering (under 100). Wednesday morning the 15th has clean offshore wind but only 1ft – not worth suiting up. Thursday morning the 16th gets a little bump to 1ft with a 13-second period and energy of 54, but it’s still very ordinary.
Then Friday July 17th morning, it gets interesting. A clean 3ft east swell with a 16-second period, light offshore wind from the WSW, and energy jumping to 306. That’s a proper groundswell with shape. The afternoon is glassy, 3ft, and energy at 406. This is the first real standout – small but clean.
Saturday July 18th morning is the best of the early run. Offshore wind, clean, 3ft from the ESE with a 16-second period, and energy at 577. The afternoon sees a very long 23-second period from the SSE and energy of 867, but the wind goes cross-onshore from the NE, so it’ll be choppy. Morning is the go.
Sunday July 19th morning holds 2ft from the SSE with a 17-second period, offshore wind, energy 355 – still a decent session. The week after drops off until Wednesday July 22nd morning, when a 5ft east-northeast swell rolls in with glassy conditions, but the period is short at 7 seconds and energy is 258. Surfable but not special.
Now, the big one: Thursday July 23rd morning. This is for experts only. Waves hit 7ft from the ENE with an 11-second period, offshore wind from the WSW, and combined energy of 1478 – that’s very strong. It’ll be powerful and heavy, with clean conditions. This is a true standout for the second week. The afternoon is the same size but onshore, so messy.
Friday July 24th and Saturday July 25th mornings both offer clean 6ft east swells, 12-second periods, and energy around 900-964. Offshore or light winds keep it clean. Good solid days for confident surfers. Crowds are possible at New Brighton, so get there early.
By Sunday July 26th, the swell drops to 4ft, still with an 11-second period and offshore wind, but energy down to 425. It fades through Monday July 27th, with smaller waves and moderate offshore wind, energy dropping below 110.
The best windows are Friday July 17th and Saturday July 18th mornings for clean, fun waves, and Thursday July 23rd morning for the big, powerful swell. Don’t bother before the 17th – it’s flat and ugly.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 5°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 5 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NE 7 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 16 | E 16 | E 16 | E 16 | E 15 | ESE 16 | SSE 23 | SSE 21 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 41 | 26 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 40 | 25 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 30 | 133 | 257 | 306 | 406 | 347 | 400 | 591 | 649 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | off | glassy | glassy | off | cross-on | glassy | off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:26PM2.10m | 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 | ||||||||
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 | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — |
 | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 6 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
Feels °C | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 6 | NE 4 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | E 16 | E 16 | E 16 | E 16 | E 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 14 | SSE 21 |
| kJ | 41 | 26 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 133 | 257 | 306 | 406 | 347 | 400 | 276 | 649 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 11 | S 10 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 8 | E 10 | ENE 8 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 4 | E 4 | S 15 | S 16 | E 18 | SSE 23 | SSE 23 | ESE 14 |
| kJ | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 225 | 172 | 591 | 189 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | — | — | S 22 | S 20 | E 15 | E 13 | S 19 | S 19 | ENE 7 | E 16 | NE 6 | S 15 | — | S 15 | S 19 | SE 5 | S 9 | — |
| kJ | 46 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 9 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 1 | 5 | — | 69 | 7 | 5 | 180 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 5 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | N 3 | — | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | — | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 14 | 17 | 21 | 40 | 25 | 13 | 8 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 74 | — | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 40 | 20 | 40 | 43 | 4 | 169 | 249 | 43 | 20 | 36 | 33 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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