Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SSE swell with 267 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, it's Rusty.
Look, mate, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it – the next two weeks at New Brighton Beach are about as exciting as watching kelp dry. The first week is a write-off with nothing worth paddling out for. There's a massive gap from now until the second Tuesday, with only a few sessions that are "surfable" but nothing to write home about. The water temp is sitting at 51°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s not freezing you out, at least.
The only real window of interest kicks off on Tuesday the 8th of September. The morning sees a clean 3ft swell from the SE with a 10-second period and a light offshore breeze from the W (10 km/h). The combined energy is 194, so moderate. It's small but clean. That afternoon gets even better – glassy conditions, zero wind, and a 3ft SE swell with a 10-second period. It’s not big, but those conditions make for the most inviting session of the whole run. Get on it while you can.
Then, by Wednesday the 9th of September, the swell jumps to 4ft from the SE, with a period of 13 seconds, and the energy hits 479 – that's moderate to strong. But here’s the catch: it’s cross-onshore with a NE breeze at 5 km/h. It’s a messy, marginal forecast. That might be more interesting for the kite crew than a paddle surfer. For what it's worth, the break is inconsistent and can be crowded sometimes, so don't expect a secret spot.
The rest of the second week dribbles away into nothing. Small, weak swells and onshore slop. By the 16th of September, there's a long period 19-second swell from the SSE, but it's only 1ft to 2ft with onshore winds – a total tease.
Honestly, the standout is Tuesday the 8th of September. The morning is clean, the afternoon is glassy. That’s your pick. The rest is for the boys who just want a paddle.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 5°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Wed afternoon, calm by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SE 12 | N 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NE 6 | NE 9 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | N 4 | NE 4 | NE 9 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
201 | 163 | 267 | 240 | 123 | 37 | 25 | 17 | 20 | 32 | 37 | 10 | 25 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 37 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 128 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 7:40PM1.82m | 8:07AM1.84m | 8:31PM1.80m | 9:02AM1.87m | 9:27PM1.78m | 10:02AM1.89m | 10:27PM1.79m | 11:03AM1.93m | 11:29PM1.81m | 12:04PM1.98m | 00:29AM1.86m | 1:03PM2.03m | 1:26AM1.90m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:39PM0.27m | 2:04AM0.26m | 2:32PM0.28m | 2:55AM0.25m | 3:27PM0.29m | 3:49AM0.24m | 4:24PM0.29m | 4:45AM0.22m | 5:22PM0.27m | 5:42AM0.19m | 6:20PM0.23m | 6:39AM0.14m | 7:17PM0.19m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
— | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 |
Feels °C | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 9 | SE 10 | NE 6 | NE 9 | NE 8 | N 4 | E 7 | E 10 | S 18 | ENE 5 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SE 11 |
201 | 163 | 267 | 240 | 123 | 37 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 37 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 128 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SE 17 | NNE 4 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 11 | E 11 | NE 9 | S 9 | SE 11 | E 8 | S 9 | S 18 | — | NE 9 | S 16 | — | — | E 9 |
2 | 73 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | 37 | 5 | — | — | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 12 | — | — | SE 12 | E 11 | E 10 | — | S 9 | E 11 | S 8 | SE 10 | S 15 | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 17 | SSW 9 | — | — | — |
— | — | 3 | — | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | NNE 9 | — | N 4 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | N 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | N 4 | NE 4 | NNW 3 | — | SW 4 | S 13 | SW 3 |
3 | 8 | — | 1 | 9 | 14 | 25 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 25 | 10 | 25 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 12 | — | 33 | 380 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0 | 4 | 43 | 124 | 154 | 154 | 33 | 43 | 43 | 124 | 43 | 49 | 169 | 155 | 402 | 0 |
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.











