New Brighton Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 43.47° S 172.72° E

New Brighton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's New Brighton Beach sea temperature is
10.4° C
0.9° 

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: 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 TypeTime (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 Forecast

Mostly 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 Summary

Mostly 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
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
E
9
0.4
E
9
0.6
ENE
5
0.8
NNE
4
0.9
NNE
4
1
NNE
4
0.9
NNE
4
0.7
NNE
4
0.5
NE
4
0.4
NE
7
0.2
E
12
0.2
E
13
0.3
E
13
0.5
E
16
0.7
E
16
0.8
E
16
0.9
E
16
0.9
E
15
0.9
ESE
16
0.8
SSE
23
0.9
SSE
21
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy 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)
0
NNW
15
ENE
5
NNE
20
N
30
NNE
15
NW
15
NNW
30
NNW
5
WNW
10
SW
5
SE
5
NE
10
WSW
10
N
5
NNW
15
WSW
0
SSW
10
SSW
10
W
15
NE
5
NNW
Wind State
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
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:58
7:58
7:58
7:56
7:56
7:56
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
 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
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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