
Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SE swell with 1,138 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 13s period with E 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 27) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. 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 1.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 11s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down for New Brighton Beach over the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a slow start, but things start to wake up around Tuesday the 28th. The first few days are pretty small and weak. Water temp is about 50°, which is normal for this time of year.
Sunday the 26th – glassy with a tiny 2ft easterly swell, but the combined energy is only 176 – real weak. Not worth it unless you’re just learning.
Monday the 27th – morning picks up a little to 3ft from the east, light offshore wind, clean. But energy’s still low at 231. Afternoon turns cross-on and messy – skip it.
Tuesday the 28th – now we’re cookin’. Morning has a 4ft easterly swell with a 13-second period, combined energy jumpin’ to 417 (moderate). The wind is cross-off and light, so it’s clean. This is the first real standout – good shape, decent push. Afternoon gets onshore, so hit it early.
Wednesday the 29th – another solid morning. 3ft east swell, glassy, 285 energy. Clean and fun. Afternoon stays cross-off and clean but a little smaller.
Thursday the 30th – morning glassy but only 2ft and 115 energy – real weak. Afternoon gets hammered by a 25 km/h northerly cross-shore – write it off.
Friday the 31st – ugly. Strong onshore winds, lumpy, choppy. Don’t bother.
Saturday the 1st of August – morning’s still poor, but the afternoon! Wind swings offshore from the SW, swell bumps to 4ft from the SSE, period 10 seconds, combined energy 442 (moderate). Clean and punchy. Another standout.
Sunday the 2nd of August – swell builds to 5ft–5ft from the SE/ESE, period 13 seconds, energy 628–745 (strong). Biggest waves of the window. But the wind is cross-off, not clean offshore, and the long period might make it fat and straight at the beach. More for experienced surfers.
Monday the 3rd of August – morning offshore, 4ft from the ESE, 371 energy, clean. Good follow-up. Afternoon drops to 3ft but still offshore.
After that, the swell fades. From Tuesday the 4th through to Monday the 10th of August, it’s mostly small – 1ft to 4ft, with occasional glassy mornings but low energy. The standout here is Thursday the 6th of August morning – glassy, 4ft east swell, 289 energy, clean. Nice little session for the patient surfer.
Best bets? Tuesday the 28th of July morning and Saturday the 1st of August afternoon – clean, decent swell, good energy. If you want bigger waves, Sunday the 2nd of August has the most size but it’s a bit of a challenge.
New Brighton Beach is inconsistent and can get a few people around sometimes, so don’t expect empty lineups. But for a mellow beach break, there’s fun to be had.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 4°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 4°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, near gales from the SW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | NNE 8 | E 11 | E 12 | SSE 13 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | SE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
176 | 222 | 219 | 293 | 411 | 417 | 350 | 276 | 209 | 148 | 106 | 97 | 111 | 41 | 70 | 69 | 146 | 126 | 447 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | on | on | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:51AM1.69m | 3:18PM1.83m | 3:33AM1.71m | 3:59PM1.86m | 4:15AM1.72m | 4:41PM1.87m | 4:56AM1.72m | 5:21PM1.87m | 5:37AM1.72m | 6:01PM1.86m | 6:18AM1.71m | 6:42PM1.83m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:52AM0.39m | 9:26PM0.44m | 9:36AM0.37m | 10:10PM0.41m | 10:20AM0.34m | 10:54PM0.38m | 11:04AM0.31m | 11:37PM0.36m | 11:47AM0.30m | 00:20AM0.34m | 12:31PM0.30m | 1:03AM0.33m | |||||||
— | 7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Temp °C | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Feels °C | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | -3 | -1 | -1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | NE 6 | E 12 | SSE 13 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | SE 14 |
176 | 222 | 219 | 293 | 411 | 417 | 350 | 276 | 209 | 148 | 106 | 97 | 64 | 11 | 70 | 69 | 146 | 126 | 447 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | S 17 | S 16 | E 18 | E 11 | SSE 8 | E 11 | SSE 11 | E 10 | NE 17 |
4 | 131 | 136 | 53 | 35 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 41 | 13 | 37 | 49 | 8 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | S 16 | SSW 14 | S 18 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | — | NE 7 | ESE 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 |
— | 9 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 70 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 45 | — | 8 | 23 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | — | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 8 | SW 2 | SSW 3 | — | WSW 3 | S 11 | WSW 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | 13 | 19 | 111 | 1 | 7 | — | 9 | 224 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 82 | 40 | 135 | 124 | 177 | 12 | 169 | 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.










