Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 31 Aug 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, 12PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. 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 0.7m 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 3.5m 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| 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
Alright mate, Rusty here, looking at the long-range surf for New Brighton Beach. Gotta be straight with you – this one's a tough stretch. The next 16 days are pretty quiet, with only a few fleeting moments that are worth paddling out for. The water's sitting at 51°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so that's a small comfort.
We kick off on Tuesday, the 1st of September. The morning is the pick of the very early days, with a clean 3ft swell from the SSE and a light cross-off wind. The wave energy is weak (203), so you're looking at small, surfable waves but nothing to write home about. The afternoon goes onshore, so forget it.
Wednesday the 2nd has a similar story – a clean 2ft swell from the SSE in the morning, again with light cross-off winds. The period bumps up to 17 seconds, which is a proper long-period groundswell, so the sets will have some push for the size. The energy is still moderate (246). But the afternoon gets blown out by a strong 35 km/h wind.
After that, it's a long, flat spell of poor conditions. From Thursday the 3rd all the way through to Monday the 7th, the swell is tiny, periods are short, and winds are messy. There's a gap of several days here with absolutely nothing worth getting wet for.
Tuesday the 8th of September offers a brief glimmer. The morning has a clean 2ft from the SSE with a solid 11-second period and a light offshore wind from the WSW. The energy is moderate (114). The afternoon is similar but with a cross-off wind. It's still small, but for New Brighton, that's as good as it gets in this window.
After that, it's back to very small, weak, and mostly poor conditions for the rest of the forecast. There's a hint of something on Saturday the 12th with a 2ft from the east, 11-second period, and a clean offshore wind. The energy is moderate (193). That morning session is probably the best of the second week, but it's still a long way out and the confidence is low.
Overall, this is a lean run. If you're desperate, aim for the mornings of the 1st, 2nd, or 8th, or the morning of the 12th if you're feeling optimistic. Otherwise, it's a good time to check the wax collection and wait for the next pulse.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the N by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Fri night, strong winds from the SW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSE 14 | SE 12 | N 4 | N 3 | NNE 4 | NE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | SE 10 | N 3 | N 4 | NE 5 | ENE 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
201 | 163 | 267 | 243 | 105 | 37 | 23 | 11 | 19 | 75 | 54 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 94 | 161 | 35 | 8 | 7 | 131 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Feels °C | 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 7 | -2 | 2 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 14 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 9 | SE 10 | S 9 | ENE 9 | NW 4 | SE 10 | NE 7 | SE 9 | S 18 | ENE 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 12 |
201 | 163 | 267 | 243 | 105 | 37 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 54 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 161 | 35 | 8 | 7 | 131 | |
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 | E 11 | N 5 | NNE 4 | NE 8 | SE 9 | E 10 | — | S 17 | S 16 | — | — | NE 9 |
2 | 72 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 9 | E 12 | — | — | SE 12 | E 11 | E 10 | S 18 | S 16 | S 9 | ENE 7 | S 13 | S 14 | S 17 | — | S 9 | S 16 | — | — | — |
— | 2 | 3 | — | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | — | 14 | 45 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | — | — | N 4 | NNW 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 3 | NNE 4 | NE 6 | W 4 | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | NE 5 | NW 4 | NW 3 | SSW 4 | S 13 | SSW 12 |
5 | — | — | 1 | 14 | 18 | 23 | 11 | 19 | 75 | 14 | — | — | 5 | 13 | 94 | 14 | 3 | 44 | 276 | 3003 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 0 | 33 | 43 | 43 | 155 | 43 | 33 | 43 | 43 | 55 | 45 | 142 | 5 | 173 | 330 | 0 |
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.











