
Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, ENE swell with 560 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s 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 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) 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 1.6m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at New Brighton Beach for the next couple of weeks.
Gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is mostly a bust. The water is 49°F, which is about normal for this time of year. The wave energy is weak for most of the run, with readings mostly under 100 (like 85 or 94) until things finally show a pulse later. There’s a stretch of several days where there’s just nothing to get out of bed for.
Sunday the 9th, you’ve got a tiny 3ft to 3ft ENE swell with a short 7-second period. Sunday morning has a light onshore breeze, but the afternoon goes glassy. The waves are there, but the energy is weak (94), so it’s more of a float than a surf.
Monday the 10th, the swell drops even more to 1ft to 1ft. The morning has a clean offshore wind from the WSW, but the swell is practically gone (energy 30). The afternoon brings a long-period 12-second swell from the ESE at 1ft – that long period will give better shape if anything shows, but it’s just too small.
Tuesday through to Friday of that first week is all small surf with a lot of onshore or cross-onshore wind. Swell stays under 3ft and the energy is weak to moderate (42 to 158). The wind keeps things choppy or messy. Friday the 14th has a clean offshore wind in the morning with a 3ft swell (energy 131), but it’s still just ordinary.
The weekend of the 16th and 17th is more of the same – small, clean, but nothing to write home about. Saturday the 15th has a bigger wind (19 mph) with a 3ft swell and a long 12-second period, but that’s a strong cross-offshore breeze that will mess with the surface.
Then a real lull. Monday the 18th through to Friday the 22nd is just tiny, weak surf. There are a couple of glassy moments on the 20th and 21st, but the swell is barely 2ft to 3ft. A blank run.
Finally, a glimmer. Sunday the 23rd of August morning is the standout. We’ve got a 2ft swell from the E with a very long 15-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 327 (moderate to strong). The wind is a light offshore from the WSW, so the waves will be clean and have some real punch. That long period means it’s a proper groundswell, and with the offshore wind, it’ll be worth a session. It’s not big, but the quality will be there. Remember, this is two weeks out, so it’s promising but not a sure thing.
Monday the 24th is glassy again but the energy drops right back to 96, so that Sunday is your best bet.
New Brighton Beach is an inconsistent spot, fairly exposed, and the optimum swell direction is ENE, which we see early on, but it’s just too small. For the most part, the surf is weak and the conditions are ordinary. The only day that really stands out is that Sunday the 23rd morning.
It won’t stay flat forever, so keep an eye on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the NE by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 12 | ENE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
61 | 76 | 21 | 14 | 30 | 57 | 49 | 28 | 140 | 135 | 191 | 560 | 123 | 120 | 121 | 109 | 154 | 94 | 71 | 184 | 187 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:15PM2.02m | 1:38AM1.90m | 2:12PM2.10m | 2:34AM1.96m | 3:08PM2.16m | 3:30AM2.01m | 4:02PM2.19m | 4:24AM2.04m | 4:55PM2.19m | 5:17AM2.05m | 5:47PM2.16m | 6:11AM2.02m | 6:39PM2.09m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:30PM0.21m | 7:49AM0.09m | 8:28PM0.15m | 8:47AM0.03m | 9:25PM0.10m | 9:44AM-0.02m | 10:21PM0.05m | 10:40AM-0.04m | 11:15PM0.03m | 11:35AM-0.02m | 00:08AM0.03m | 12:29PM0.02m | 1:01AM0.06m | ||||||||
7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
Feels °C | 7 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | SSE 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 14 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 12 | ENE 11 |
3 | 9 | 21 | 14 | 20 | 57 | 49 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 201 | 123 | 18 | 121 | 109 | 154 | 94 | 71 | 184 | 187 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | S 16 | E 14 | E 14 | ESE 14 | — | E 13 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | SSE 5 | S 16 | SE 8 |
15 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 30 | 56 | 34 | 13 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 19 | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 48 | 36 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | E 13 | E 14 | E 13 | ENE 7 | NE 6 | E 7 | S 18 | S 16 | S 21 | S 20 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | ESE 14 | S 16 | S 14 | E 13 | SE 11 | S 16 |
6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 7 | — | 18 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SW 3 | — | SW 2 | — | — | ENE 3 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | ENE 8 | — | — | SW 3 | SW 2 | SW 2 | SSE 6 | SSW 7 |
61 | 76 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 140 | 135 | 191 | 560 | — | 120 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 158 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 0 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 45 | 167 | 33 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 169 | 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.











