
Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s period, SSE swell with 308 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s period with SE 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 17s. 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 1.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 13s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, listen up. Rusty here, and I’m looking at what’s on offer for New Brighton Beach. Let’s be straight: the first week and a half is a total dud. We’re looking at about 12 to 13 days of flatness before anything even remotely rideable shows up.
The pattern is weak. The combined swell energy is mostly below 100 (weak energy) for a long stretch. On Monday, August 3rd, we get a 1ft SSE swell, but it’s a 15-second period groundswell with a cross-off wind. Useless. The best of the early stuff is on the 5th and 6th of August, with a 3ft SE swell on Wednesday morning and a 2ft swell on Thursday morning. The wind goes glassy on Thursday, and the combined energy hits 237 (moderate). Still, it’s only “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” Not worth the drive.
From the 7th through the 15th, it’s a desert. Tiny swell, onshore winds, combined energy values often below 50 (weak). A long, blank run.
Then we get one real chance. On Sunday, August 16th, the morning shows a 6ft ENE swell. The combined energy jumps to 435 (strong wave energy). The wind is offshore out of the WSW at 12 mph, so the waves will be clean. The period is short at 7 seconds, so it’s windswell, meaning it’ll be a bit fat and fast, but for New Brighton, that’s a solid size. At 6ft, this is for experienced surfers only. The water temperature is about 49°F, which is just 0.7°F above normal, so nothing unusual.
That Sunday morning on the 16th is your only real standout. It’s a long way off, so don’t book the time off just yet, but if it holds, that’s the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon afternoon, min 3°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon night, calm by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Sat morning, min 4°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 13 | ESE 10 | SSE 15 | ESE 13 | SE 14 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
84 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 209 | 216 | 191 | 117 | 108 | 164 | 73 | 43 | 67 | 50 | 27 | 25 | 34 | 34 | 14 | 13 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | off | glassy | on | glassy | off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:06PM1.78m | 8:31AM1.72m | 8:53PM1.76m | 9:22AM1.75m | 9:44PM1.75m | 10:17AM1.80m | 10:40PM1.76m | 11:16AM1.86m | 11:39PM1.79m | 12:16PM1.94m | 00:39AM1.84m | 1:15PM2.02m | 1:38AM1.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:31AM0.32m | 2:52PM0.34m | 3:18AM0.31m | 3:43PM0.34m | 4:08AM0.29m | 4:37PM0.33m | 5:00AM0.26m | 5:34PM0.31m | 5:55AM0.22m | 6:32PM0.27m | 6:52AM0.16m | 7:30PM0.21m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | |
5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 |
Feels °C | 8 | 3 | -4 | -3 | -2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 13 | SE 14 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 5 |
1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 209 | 216 | 191 | 117 | 108 | 80 | 73 | 22 | 67 | 50 | 27 | 25 | 34 | 34 | 14 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NE 13 | — | — | SE 16 | — | E 18 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 12 | SSE 13 | ENE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 13 | ESE 4 | SE 9 |
1 | 7 | — | — | 10 | — | 6 | 26 | 43 | 59 | 37 | 31 | 16 | 2 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 13 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | — | — | — | E 12 | E 16 | NE 12 | E 11 | ESE 15 | SE 13 | SSE 18 | SSE 15 | ENE 3 | SSE 11 | NE 4 | — | NE 4 | E 12 | E 13 | E 12 |
4 | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 86 | 164 | 31 | 43 | 1 | 13 | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 15 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
84 | 339 | 426 | 374 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 154 | 302 | 169 | 169 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 45 | 4 | 4 | 81 | 43 |
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.











