
Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, SE swell with 609 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at New Brighton Beach in the next 16 days are 1.8m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sun 5th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Tue 7th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
G'day, Rusty here, and I’ve had a good look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks. Let’s talk New Brighton Beach. It’s a fairly exposed spot that needs an east-northeast swell to really line up, but we’ve got a bit of a slow start before a few windows of hope open up.
Right now, it’s pretty flat out there. We’ve got a few small waves on Friday the 3rd, but the wind is a bit messy and the water’s at 51°F, about average for this time of year. That first real surf doesn’t show until Sunday the 5th morning with chest-high, 4ft swell coming out of the east at 9 seconds – a bit short and crumbly, and the cross-wind means it’s only marginal. Later that afternoon, the wind swings offshore but picks up to a fresh 19 mph, making it clean but hard work.
Monday the 6th sees the swell pick up to 5ft to 5ft from the southeast, but the cross-offshore wind keeps it clean. The wave energy is moderate (399-467) but the conditions are still rated poor. Tuesday the 7th morning has a solid 5ft south-east swell with a moderate breeze, though the energy kicks up to 721, so there’s some grunt in the water. By Tuesday afternoon, it drops to 4ft but swings more east, and a light breeze makes it cleaner – surfable for sure.
Now, keep an eye on Wednesday the 8th morning. We’ve got 5ft from the east, 10-second period, and it’s glassy. That’s a standout – clean, fun-sized waves with good energy (457). The morning looks like the pick for a session if you can get out. The afternoon gets a bit cross-shore and messy again.
Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th are smaller, around 3ft to 4ft, but the winds are light and offshore or cross-off, giving you clean waves. Not big, but workable.
Then there’s a lull. Saturday the 11th to Tuesday the 14th is mostly tiny, with a few days of clean but ankle-to-knee high dribble. The energy drops right off (72 on Sunday the 12th), so don’t expect much.
But hold onto your board – Wednesday the 15th morning is a beast. We’ve got a massive 10ft swell from the northeast, 9 seconds, and light cross-offshore wind. The energy is extreme (1899). That is too big for this beach break unless you’re a very experienced surfer—it’s only for experts and likely dangerous for beginners. It’s a true standout, but be careful. The afternoon drops to 5ft from the east-northeast and turns glassy, which is much more manageable.
Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th mornings are also good: 4ft from the east, long 13-14 second periods, clean offshore winds, and energy in the 550-630 range. That’s quality, consistent groundswell. The period is long, so it’ll be better shaped but with longer waits between sets.
Saturday the 18th finishes the window with a tiny 3ft to 3ft easterly swell, glassy conditions, and light winds. It’s small but clean.
So the standout here is Wednesday the 15th morning for experts only, and Thursday the 16th to Friday the 17th mornings for clean, fun, lined-up waves. The gaps of small surf from the 11th to the 14th are a bit of a downer, but it won’t stay quiet for long.
Catch you on the sand, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 4°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, strong winds from the SW by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 10°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fri 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | ENE 12 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 10 | SSE 8 | E 10 | E 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | E 10 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
130 | 125 | 115 | 365 | 201 | 203 | 141 | 90 | 349 | 411 | 609 | 407 | 320 | 547 | 443 | 432 | 335 | 156 | 128 | 133 | 304 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 7:16PM1.81m | 7:34AM1.64m | 7:57PM1.78m | 8:17AM1.63m | 8:39PM1.75m | 9:01AM1.63m | 9:22PM1.74m | 9:48AM1.66m | 10:09PM1.73m | 10:39AM1.71m | 11:01PM1.75m | 11:34AM1.79m | 11:56PM1.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:38AM0.38m | 1:47PM0.36m | 2:21AM0.38m | 2:31PM0.38m | 3:03AM0.38m | 3:16PM0.38m | 3:47AM0.36m | 4:04PM0.38m | 4:33AM0.33m | 4:55PM0.36m | 5:21AM0.29m | 5:49PM0.32m | 6:13AM0.24m | ||||||||
— | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | |
5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | 5:07 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Feels °C | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | -1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 7 | E 7 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 |
130 | 125 | 115 | 187 | 80 | 168 | 141 | 90 | 50 | 39 | 27 | 314 | 320 | 369 | 443 | 432 | 335 | 156 | 115 | 99 | 304 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 19 | E 9 | NNE 8 | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 13 | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | S 16 |
4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 203 | 11 | — | — | 17 | 30 | — | — | 44 | 14 | 54 | — | — | 128 | 133 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 13 | S 17 | S 16 | — | S 17 | S 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | S 17 | — | — | — | S 18 | — |
— | 17 | 6 | 5 | — | 23 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | 24 | — | — | — | 6 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | ENE 12 | NE 8 | SW 2 | SSW 2 | SSE 4 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 7 | SSE 7 | S 18 | SSE 8 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 |
17 | 16 | 29 | 365 | 201 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 349 | 411 | 609 | 407 | 211 | 547 | 155 | 132 | 6 | 120 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 10 | 33 | 169 | 169 | 237 | 194 | 155 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 169 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.











