Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, NE swell with 840 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with ENE 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 15s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The next couple of weeks look pretty bleak for New Brighton Beach. There’s a lot of small, weak swell and messy wind to sift through, so don’t expect any fireworks.
The first real chance of anything surfable rolls in on Thursday the 13th. The morning brings a 7.2ft swell from the NE, but the wind is a light cross-on, which will put a bit of texture on the face. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 796 (read: there’s some push) but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and disorganised. Not a total write-off, but it’s a marginal call. The afternoon glass-off is a cruel tease – a tiny 3.3ft from the ENE, glassy as glass can be with zero wind, but the energy is only 144. It’s surfable, but only just.
Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th are a story of small, clean waves if you’re desperate. Friday morning you get a 2.3ft easterly swell with a light offshore wind from the SW, making it clean. The energy is a weak 114. Saturday morning is similar, 2.0ft from the east with a light offshore, but the energy drops to 55. These are days for a longboard or a foamie, and definitely not for the crowds.
The real standout, if you can call it that, is Wednesday the 19th. The morning session shows a 3.0ft swell from the SSE, but the period is a very long 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy hits 418. And with a light offshore wind from the WSW, it’ll be clean. That long period will stack up nicely at a beach break, though it might reel off a bit straight. This is the best on offer in the whole run, and it’s still on the small side. The water temp is about average for the time of year, sitting at 48.7°.
The rest of the second week is a dud. From the 20th through to the 27th, we’re looking at tiny waves, often under 1.6ft, with periods all over the shop and mostly onshore or cross-shore winds. There’s a little spike of energy on the 26th morning with a 1.3ft swell and a 16-second period, but it’s too small to get excited about.
Overall, it’s a rough patch. If you’ve got a longboard, the 19th is your best bet. The rest is pretty much a write-off. Don’t expect much, and you won’t be disappointed.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Wed morning, calm by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Sat morning, min 4°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | SE 13 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | SE 6 | ENE 9 | E 9 | SE 8 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 149 | 319 | 250 | 587 | 130 | 73 | 54 | 55 | 37 | 41 | 45 | 33 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 60 | 573 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | off | off | on | glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | off | off | glassy | off | off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 4:02PM2.19m | 4:24AM2.04m | 4:55PM2.19m | 5:17AM2.05m | 5:47PM2.16m | 6:11AM2.02m | 6:39PM2.09m | 7:05AM1.98m | 7:31PM2.00m | 8:00AM1.93m | 8:24PM1.90m | 8:55AM1.87m | 9:18PM1.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:44AM-0.02m | 10:21PM0.05m | 10:40AM-0.04m | 11:15PM0.03m | 11:35AM-0.02m | 00:08AM0.03m | 12:29PM0.02m | 1:01AM0.06m | 1:23PM0.09m | 1:52AM0.12m | 2:17PM0.18m | 2:43AM0.19m | 3:10PM0.27m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — |
 | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 4 | SE 8 | SE 6 | SSE 7 | E 10 | SSE 17 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 171 | 130 | 73 | 54 | 55 | 37 | 41 | 45 | 33 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 573 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 20 | SE 9 | ESE 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | E 9 |
| kJ | 5 | 8 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 3 | 12 | 23 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 7 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | S 15 | S 18 | ESE 14 | — | SE 10 | SE 13 | ESE 14 | S 18 | S 17 | ESE 13 | S 17 | E 13 | E 12 | ENE 9 | SSE 6 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | E 8 | ESE 13 | — |
| kJ | 9 | 4 | 25 | 19 | — | 4 | 46 | 40 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 21 | 20 | 5 | 17 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | — | — | SSW 3 | SW 3 | — | SSW 3 | SSE 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 10 | — |
| kJ | 149 | 319 | 250 | 587 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 60 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 169 | 20 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 31 | 20 | 20 | 4 | 20 | 33 | 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.
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