Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, ENE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 12s period, SE swell with 144 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. 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 0.7m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, same story but in feet and knots.
The whole 16-day window is a shocker for New Brighton Beach. There’s hardly a wave worth paddling for. The first day I can even mention is Friday afternoon August 28th, and even then it’s a total flop. We get a 4ft swell from the ENE with a short 8-second period, which is weak and messy. The combined energy is only 196 (moderate), but the wind is a cross-off from the NW at 11 knots, so it’s not completely shredded, but the quality is poor. Water temp is about 50°, which is 2° warmer than usual for this time of year – not a huge deal, but noticeable if you’re used to a cold paddle.
Saturday August 29th morning drops right off to 1ft with clean offshore WSW breeze at 5 knots, but there’s absolutely no power in it. Energy is just 53. Same story Saturday afternoon – tiny windswell from the NE.
Sunday August 30th is a joke – 2ft from the north with a 3-second period? That’s barely a ripple. Energy is 18. Monday August 31st has a longer-period SSE swell at 12-16 seconds, but it’s only 1ft. The longer period might sound good, but there’s no height to work with.
We do get a little bump on Wednesday morning September 2nd – 2ft from the SE with a 12-second period. Energy jumps to 131 (moderate), and the wind is light WNW cross-off at 5 knots. Conditions are clean, but it’s barely surfable. The guidance calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.”
After that, it’s back to tiny, weak, and mostly wind-affected junk through until September 11th. On Friday morning September 11th, we get a half-decent pulse: 2ft from the SE with a 13-second period. Energy is 170 (moderate), and wind is offshore from the SW at 11 knots. That’s the best of the whole run, but let’s be real – 2ft is knee-high. It’s clean and you might get a little fun one, but don’t plan your week around it.
Saturday September 12th sees stronger offshore SW wind at 24 knots, but the swell is only 1ft and the period drops. It’s clean but a tough paddle in that wind, and there’s hardly any wave.
So, the standout? I hate to say it, but that Friday September 11th morning is the only one that even raises an eyebrow. It’s a far cry from epic. For a beginner-friendly beach break like New Brighton Beach, the crowds are possible, but with this forecast, you’ll probably have the place to yourself. If you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s your window. Otherwise, save the petrol and take up kite surfing – there’s plenty of wind, but the waves just aren’t there.
This is a proper dry spell. It tends not to stay this flat for long around here, but this run is rough.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the WNW by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | N 3 | NNW 4 | ENE 7 | SSE 12 | SSE 16 | NNW 4 | NE 10 | SE 4 | SE 12 | SE 15 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
169 | 54 | 26 | 25 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 30 | 49 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 142 | 67 | 56 | 35 | 31 | 11 | 19 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 4:46PM1.87m | 5:03AM1.77m | 5:26PM1.87m | 5:45AM1.79m | 6:08PM1.86m | 6:30AM1.81m | 6:52PM1.84m | 7:17AM1.83m | 7:40PM1.82m | 8:07AM1.84m | 8:31PM1.80m | 9:02AM1.87m | 9:27PM1.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:00PM0.31m | 11:15AM0.26m | 11:44PM0.28m | 12:01PM0.25m | 00:29AM0.27m | 12:49PM0.26m | 1:15AM0.26m | 1:39PM0.27m | 2:04AM0.26m | 2:32PM0.28m | 2:55AM0.25m | 3:27PM0.29m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 7 | -1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 4 | ENE 7 | NNW 4 | ENE 7 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | NNW 4 | NE 10 | SE 4 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | N 4 | SE 11 |
169 | 54 | 26 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 142 | 67 | 56 | 35 | 31 | 4 | 19 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SSE 11 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ENE 8 | SE 12 | ENE 8 | E 12 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | NE 10 | NE 7 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 15 | SE 15 | NE 5 | E 10 | SSE 11 | E 10 |
20 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 27 | 49 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 60 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | NNW 3 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 12 | S 16 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 4 | NE 9 | — | — | — | NE 11 | NE 4 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 9 | NE 5 | S 18 |
4 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | — | — | — | NW 3 | N 3 | W 3 | S 17 | W 3 | NNW 3 | S 17 | S 4 | S 12 | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | N 4 | N 4 | — | N 4 |
3 | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | 1 | 220 | 2 | 10 | 149 | 49 | 232 | — | 2 | 21 | 14 | 10 | — | 12 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 20 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 33 | 20 | 154 | 5 | 5 | 49 | 177 | 155 | 436 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 40 | 5 | 33 | 20 |
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.











