Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, NE swell with 275 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with NE 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 (Aug 21) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s is also forecast. 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 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore 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 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for New Brighton Beach over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, it’s a pretty quiet stretch ahead. The first few days are a write-off, with barely a bump and poor conditions. We’ve got a long gap of almost no surf worth mentioning until we start seeing a few tiny pulses of energy. The first real chance to get wet comes around Monday 24th August, but even then it’s small and ordinary.
Monday morning the 24th sees a little 1ft swell from the SSE with a 14-second period, and the wind is glassy – dead calm. That’s as good as it gets for a while. The combined energy is weak, so it’s not going to be powerful, but it will be clean. After that, it’s back to small, poor surf for days.
The standout here is a late-blooming window on Thursday 3rd September. The morning shows a 2ft SSE swell, 11-second period, with a light offshore wind from the SW. The water is a bit cooler than average for the time of year, sitting around 50°, so don’t forget a wetsuit. The combined energy is still weak, but the offshore wind will make those tiny waves peel nicely. It’s the best we’ll see, but it’s still only for the patient surfer or a beginner having a go. Crowds are possible at New Brighton Beach, so you might have a few others with the same idea for that Thursday morning session.
The rest of the 16 days is filled with cross-shore winds, onshore slop, and barely any height. It’s a lean run.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (gales from the NW on Sat night, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 6°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, strong winds from the N by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSE 12 | NE 5 | SSE 11 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NE 8 | E 14 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | E 14 | E 14 | NNW 4 | N 4 | ESE 14 | E 14 | SSE 16 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 18 | 74 | 35 | 15 | 51 | 63 | 30 | 16 | 15 | 22 | 23 | 39 | 14 | 27 | 120 | 112 | 275 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 3:42AM1.72m | 4:06PM1.86m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:45AM0.31m | 10:17PM0.34m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
Temp °C | 7 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | NE 5 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | E 14 | NE 8 | NE 7 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | NE 5 | NE 4 | E 14 | E 14 | N 4 | E 14 | SSE 16 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 18 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 35 | 7 | 51 | 63 | 30 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 2 | 14 | 27 | 120 | 112 | 85 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 11 | SSE 11 | ENE 5 | E 15 | SE 10 | NE 4 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | SSE 10 | E 14 | S 17 | S 18 | E 14 | S 15 | E 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 7 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 32 | 13 | 42 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | S 15 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | S 16 | E 14 | NE 9 | NE 7 | NE 8 | E 8 | E 14 | SE 9 | S 9 | — | ESE 14 | NE 4 | NE 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 2 | — | 39 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 3 | — | N 3 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | WSW 3 | N 3 | NNE 2 | N 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | N 4 | SSE 16 | ESE 4 | E 3 | E 3 | ENE 5 | NE 7 |
| kJ | — | 5 | — | 7 | 18 | 74 | 12 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 48 | 275 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 43 | 20 | 43 | 43 | 124 | 158 | 205 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 124 | 124 | 43 | 20 | 155 | 40 | 155 | 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.
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