Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 14s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, NE swell with 115 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 14s period with SSE 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 (Aug 24) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at New Brighton Beach in the next 16 days are 0.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Lookin' at the charts for New Brighton Beach, and I gotta be straight with ya – it's a tough stretch. We're staring down a 16-day window that's mostly flat as a tack, with not a lot of reason to get the wax out. Honestly, there's no standout quality surf in this whole run.
The real kicker is the water temp. It's sittin' around 50°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year, so no shock there. But the problem is a persistent lack of decent swell.
We kick off Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd with nothing worth paddling out for – just choppy, wind-affected junk under 3 ft. Monday the 24th offers a brief moment of hope with a glassy morning, a tiny 1 ft SSE groundswell rolling in with a long 15-second period and moderate wave energy (111). It's surfable, but with waves that small and that long a period, it's gonna be tricky. For a beginner-friendly, inconsistent spot, it's a real stretch. That's about the best it gets. After that, we're into a long gap with only dribbles of knee-high slop and either howling winds or flat calm. The combined energy readings are mostly tiny two-digit numbers, just confirming the weakness.
The next little flicker comes on Saturday the 29th of August. Morning sees a 2 ft NE swell with 8-second period and clean conditions under a light WSW cross-off wind. Combined energy is still weak at 95, so again, nothin' to get excited about but you might find a crumbly close-out if you're desperate. After that, it's back to a desert of small, weak, or onshore-affected conditions through the 30th and 31st. The only other mention of "surfable" pops up on Wednesday, September 2nd, with another tiny 1.0 ft SSE groundswell (17 seconds period, 60 energy) and gentle offshore wind – clean but barely a ripple. By September 3rd, we're back to flat water.
For the rest of the outlook through to September 6th, there's just nothing. The wind and swell combo never lines up. This is a pretty blank run, even for an inconsistent spot like New Brighton Beach. Forecasts can change, but right now, don't hold your breath. Keep the board in the shed.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Sun morning, calm by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Tue morning, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 11 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 11 | N 4 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | ESE 13 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | NE 6 | SSE 16 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 17 | 40 | 64 | 22 | 39 | 91 | 36 | 24 | 33 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 34 | 55 | 53 | 110 | 25 | 35 | 33 | 18 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:31PM1.76m | 00:50AM1.65m | 1:18PM1.77m | 1:36AM1.66m | 2:03PM1.79m | 2:20AM1.68m | 2:45PM1.82m | 3:01AM1.70m | 3:26PM1.84m | 3:42AM1.72m | 4:06PM1.86m | 4:22AM1.75m | 4:46PM1.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:34PM0.49m | 6:48AM0.44m | 7:21PM0.48m | 7:34AM0.42m | 8:07PM0.46m | 8:18AM0.39m | 8:51PM0.43m | 9:02AM0.35m | 9:34PM0.38m | 9:45AM0.31m | 10:17PM0.34m | 10:30AM0.28m | 11:00PM0.31m | ||||||||
7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
— | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 17 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 9 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | SSE 10 | E 14 | NE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | E 14 | N 4 | E 14 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
2 | 10 | 15 | 64 | 22 | 39 | 91 | 36 | 24 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 28 | 55 | 53 | 33 | 8 | 35 | 33 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | NE 8 | SE 10 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 17 | ESE 13 | E 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 16 | SSE 11 | E 5 | — | E 14 |
11 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 23 | 6 | 34 | 13 | 16 | 26 | 13 | 2 | — | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 15 | S 19 | SE 9 | — | — | NE 8 | E 8 | S 17 | S 16 | SE 9 | E 14 | — | — | — | E 10 | SSE 12 | SSE 16 | E 15 | E 15 | S 23 |
2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 15 | — | — | — | 2 | 14 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NW 4 | NW 4 | W 2 | NNW 3 | N 3 | N 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | — | ESE 3 | E 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | NE 6 | NNW 3 | N 3 | N 3 | NE 4 |
12 | 17 | 40 | 24 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 33 | 16 | — | 2 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 110 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 14 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 43 | 124 | 43 | 249 | 154 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 43 | 49 | 43 | 10 | 20 | 43 | 40 | 45 | 45 | 4 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











