Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 17s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, SSE swell with 137 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 17s period with SSE 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 (Aug 24) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. 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 0.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Howdy, Rusty here with a look at New Brighton Beach over the next spell. It’s a slow start, so don’t be in a hurry.
Thursday the 20th features a tiny 0.7ft swell from the SSE with a very long 17-second period. Water temp’s about 50°F, which is normal for this season. It’s surfable but nothing special – glassy conditions, but wave energy is weak (54). The real highlight comes later on.
Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd are blown out with onshore winds and no size. Sunday the 23rd stays small, though a clean cross-offshore breeze on Sunday morning gives a tidy look to 2ft waves – still too tiny to get excited.
Monday the 24th warms up a bit. The morning glass-off with 2ft SSE swell and a 14-second period gives moderate energy (134). The afternoon stays small but glassy. Decent for a beginner maybe.
Then a big dry spell from Tuesday the 25th right through Thursday the 28th – nothing doing, with tiny windswell and poor wind.
Saturday the 29th sees energy ramp up with 3ft SSE groundswell and a 16-second period – strong energy at 562. But a lumpy cross-shore wind messes it up. That’s kite board weather, not paddle surfing.
The best session by far is Sunday morning the 30th of August. Glassy calm, 3ft SSE swell with a 15-second period, moderate energy at 275. Offshore wind, clean lines, and with crowds only “sometimes”, you’ll have plenty of room. Small enough for beginners, but enough period for a proper wave.
Monday the 31st morning is nearly as good – same 3ft SSE swell, 17-second period, and a light offshore breeze from the SW. Strong energy at 364. A very close runner-up.
After that it fades into small, onshore mush until Thursday the 4th of September when 3ft windswell from the north with chop finishes things off.
The standout across this whole 16-day window is Sunday morning the 30th of August – glassy, clean, and a little bit of grunt. Don’t sleep on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, strong winds from the NNW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | N 4 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NE 9 | E 14 | E 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 10 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | N 4 | NNW 4 | NE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 29 | 26 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 23 | 52 | 39 | 15 | 15 | 118 | 67 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 23 | 18 | 65 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on |
High Tide | 11:08PM1.69m | 11:40AM1.76m | 00:01AM1.66m | 12:31PM1.76m | 00:50AM1.65m | 1:18PM1.77m | 1:36AM1.66m | 2:03PM1.79m | 2:20AM1.68m | 2:45PM1.82m | 3:01AM1.70m | 3:26PM1.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:54PM0.42m | 5:13AM0.40m | 5:45PM0.47m | 6:01AM0.43m | 6:34PM0.49m | 6:48AM0.44m | 7:21PM0.48m | 7:34AM0.42m | 8:07PM0.46m | 8:18AM0.39m | 8:51PM0.43m | 9:02AM0.35m | 9:34PM0.38m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — |
 | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Temp °C | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 8 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | ENE 5 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | E 14 | NE 9 | ENE 7 | E 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | NE 5 | NE 5 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | NE 5 | NE 9 |
| kJ | 12 | 6 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 39 | 4 | 15 | 118 | 67 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 65 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SSE 16 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 11 | E 10 | E 15 | SE 10 | E 14 | E 14 | S 17 | E 14 | ESE 14 | SSE 10 | SSE 8 | NE 4 | S 17 | S 17 | E 14 | SSE 5 |
| kJ | 13 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 23 | 15 | 40 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 17 | E 9 | E 13 | E 11 | E 10 | E 15 | E 9 | S 19 | SE 9 | NE 9 | S 10 | E 8 | — | E 14 | E 14 | SE 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 17 | S 17 |
| kJ | 29 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 16 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | N 4 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NW 3 | WNW 4 | W 3 | — | NE 3 | — | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | N 4 | NNW 4 | SSW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | — | 12 | 23 | 52 | 9 | 28 | 5 | — | 9 | — | 1 | 1 | 10 | 23 | 18 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 31 | 31 | 40 | 20 | 43 | 43 | 55 | 154 | 154 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 49 | 33 | 5 | 45 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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