
Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s period, SSE swell with 122 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with ESE 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 Friday (Sep 18) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m 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 0.4m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about New Brighton Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, it’s a grim stretch ahead. We’ve got a long, long wait for anything close to decent. The first real sniff of surfable waves, and I’m being generous with that term, doesn’t show up until Saturday the 19th in the afternoon. That’s a solid five-day gap of flat, poor conditions right from the start. Even then, it’s scoring a dismal 1 out of 10.
So, the whole 16-day window is a write-off for anything you’d want to paddle out for. The wave energy is weak, with the one slight uptick on Sunday the 20th afternoon hitting a combined energy of 206 (moderate), but even that comes with a “poor surf conditions” tag. The swell may push 2ft from the SSE with a nice 14-second period, but it’s accompanied by a fresh cross-offshore wind, and the overall quality is still rated junk.
Honestly, the most notable thing on the entire forecast is the water temp on Monday the 14th, which is 51°F and a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. But that’s where the good news ends. For the rest of the period, we’re looking at tiny, weak, and messy surf with constant onshore or cross-off winds.
For an exposed beach break like this, it’s a complete bust. Don’t bother waxing up. Keep an eye on the charts, though—it tends not to stay this poor forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Sat morning, min 3°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 13 | NE 6 | N 4 | NNE 3 | NE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 14 | E 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 12 | NNE 5 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 11 | SSE 19 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
26 | 23 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 6 | 13 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 86 | 83 | 87 | 72 | 44 | 41 | 39 | 58 | 120 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:01PM1.90m | 7:29AM1.90m | 7:52PM1.82m | 8:21AM1.85m | 8:45PM1.75m | 9:15AM1.80m | 9:39PM1.69m | 10:09AM1.77m | 10:33PM1.65m | 11:03AM1.74m | 11:26PM1.63m | 11:54AM1.74m | 00:15AM1.63m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:20AM0.20m | 1:49PM0.27m | 2:10AM0.27m | 2:40PM0.34m | 2:59AM0.34m | 3:31PM0.40m | 3:48AM0.40m | 4:21PM0.45m | 4:37AM0.44m | 5:10PM0.48m | 5:25AM0.46m | 5:58PM0.49m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | NE 6 | SE 10 | ENE 5 | NE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 12 | NE 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | S 8 | SSE 19 |
26 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 86 | 83 | 87 | 72 | 11 | 41 | 39 | 1 | 120 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | — | ENE 4 | E 11 | SE 8 | E 13 | SE 10 | N 3 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | NE 3 | S 15 | ESE 11 | ENE 5 | SE 7 | S 15 | E 11 |
3 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 42 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 20 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | E 11 | E 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 7 | E 7 | ENE 5 | NE 8 | S 15 | E 14 | NE 6 | S 16 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | N 3 | S 16 | S 15 | E 9 |
5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 39 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 67 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 3 | NNE 4 | ENE 13 | — | N 4 | NNE 3 | — | — | SSE 2 | — | SSW 6 | NE 2 | — | — | NNE 5 | — | NE 4 | E 11 | NE 4 |
— | 1 | 3 | 17 | — | 17 | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | 143 | 1 | — | — | 44 | — | 1 | 58 | 9 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 43 | 20 | 43 | 43 | 33 | 33 | 43 | 33 | 33 | 5 | 20 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 33 | 31 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 40 |
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.










