New Brighton Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 43.47° S 172.72° E

New Brighton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 14 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's New Brighton Beach sea temperature is
9.8° C
0.6° 

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 14 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 15s period, SSE swell with 146 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m 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 0.6m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 15s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sat 15th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 8s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 15th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 8s
Most Powerful 3PM (Wed 19th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let's have a look at the local bank.

Honestly, the next 16 days are a bit of a write-off for any kind of proper session. We’re looking at a long, flat spell with only tiny, weak bits of energy popping up here and there, but nothing that’s really going to get the heart racing. The first solid window doesn’t show up for a while.

Looking at New Brighton Beach, the first real recommendation comes right out of the gate on Friday morning, the 14th of August. We've got a small 2ft easterly swell with a short 8-second period, so it’s just wind chop. The combined energy is weak (77). The WSW wind is blowing offshore, so it will be clean, but the wave quality is just "ordinary." This is beginner-level stuff only, and with it being inconsistent, it's not worth getting excited about. The water temp is sitting at 49°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

The next possible window is Monday the 17th. The morning sees a similar 2ft swell, this time from the ESE, with a combined energy just creeping into the moderate range (103). Again, clean with a light offshore breeze, but the period is still short at 8 seconds. It's surfable for a learner, but it’s not a standout.

A few days later on Wednesday the 19th, we see a long-period swell arrive from the SSE at 16 seconds. The morning is tiny at 1.0ft, but by the afternoon it builds to 2ft with a solid 167 combined energy. The wind is cross-offshore, keeping it clean. That’s a hint of some proper groundswell energy, but the height just isn't there to make it worthwhile at a beach break like this. It will be too weak and walled-up.

There’s a long gap of nothing worth mentioning from the 20th right through until Thursday the 27th of August. That’s a solid week of flat or near-flat conditions. On the 27th we get a small spike: a 2ft ENE swell with a 9-second period and moderate energy (104 in the morning). It's clean with a light offshore, but again, it's just not enough.

The best of the entire forecast is likely Saturday the 29th of August. We get a 1ft SSE groundswell with a very long 18-second period. The combined energy is strong in the afternoon at 219. The morning is clean with a light offshore, and the water will be glassy. It's still tiny, but that kind of period will produce some long, clean lines. For a spot that is inconsistent and easy to get skunked at, this is as good as it gets in this window. Don't expect much size, but it’ll be clean.

So, there you have it. A long, slow 16 days. Friday the 29th is the only real standout, and even then, keep expectations low. The setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer for most of the period, especially when the wind is up. Forecasts change, though, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri afternoon, min 4°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed morning, min 6°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
E
8
0.7
E
8
0.6
E
7
0.6
E
7
0.6
E
9
0.5
ENE
9
0.8
ENE
9
0.7
SE
8
0.5
E
10
0.5
ESE
8
0.7
E
10
0.5
E
10
0.5
SE
10
0.5
SE
10
0.4
SE
16
0.6
SSE
15
0.6
SE
9
0.5
SE
12
0.4
SE
11
0.2
SSE
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
57
55
35
35
55
49
110
64
44
35
102
48
45
51
64
146
67
66
44
25
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
5
SE
10
WSW
15
WSW
20
SSW
20
SW
25
S
15
WSW
10
WSW
10
SW
15
SW
20
WSW
20
SW
15
W
15
WSW
15
SSW
10
WSW
5
SSW
10
NE
10
ENE
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
glassy
on
on
High Tide
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
9:51AM1.81m
10:14PM1.74m
10:46AM1.78m
11:08PM1.69m
Low Tide
00:08AM0.03m
12:29PM0.02m
1:01AM0.06m
1:23PM0.09m
1:52AM0.12m
2:17PM0.18m
2:43AM0.19m
3:10PM0.27m
3:34AM0.27m
4:02PM0.36m
4:24AM0.34m
4:54PM0.42m
clear
clear
cloud
light rain
mod rain
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:22
7:20
7:18
7:18
7:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:42
5:43
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:47
5:49
 mm
4
6
Temp °C
13
10
9
9
7
7
8
7
7
8
7
10
10
10
12
12
9
9
9
8
Feels °C
11
8
6
6
1
0
1
3
3
4
1
6
4
5
8
8
6
7
5
5
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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