Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SE swell with 418 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period with E 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s. 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 1.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 13s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s take a look at New Brighton Beach for the next couple of weeks.
Right, I’ll be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The first decent chance of a wave doesn’t roll in until Tuesday the 25th of August. For more than a week before that – from Monday the 17th through to Monday the 24th – the swell is puny, mostly below 2 ft, and the energy is real weak, often under 100. The wind lays down sometimes with light offshore or glassy mornings, but there’s just no push. You’re looking at knee-high slop for nearly eight days in a row. Nothing doing.
Then, on Tuesday the 25th of August afternoon, a solid little pulse shows up. Swell hits 2 ft from the SSE, and the combined energy jumps to 314 – that’s moderate to strong energy, and the only time it gets there in the whole run. The period is a very long 19 seconds, so it’s proper groundswell. At a beach break like this, that long period can make the waves break a bit straight and close out, but it’ll have some grunt. The wind is SW at 15 mph, cross-offshore and clean, so the surface should be tidy. This is the one to aim for – the standout of the whole 16-day window. The break is inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for sets, and crowds are possible. With the size small, it’s not going to be a circus.
Water temp is 50°F, about 2°F warmer than average, so it’s a touch mild for the season – but you still need a thick suit.
From Wednesday the 26th on, the swell drops back under 2 ft, energy fades into weak territory, and the wind gets messy again with strong breezes and onshores. The second week is lean – a few mornings with clean offshore wind and barely a ripple, but nothing worth the paddle.
So, your one real shot is Tuesday afternoon the 25th of August. It’s not massive, but it’s the best this stretch has to offer.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue morning, min 4°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue morning, calm by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 15 | SSE 15 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SE 12 | E 15 | E 14 | NNE 4 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 78 | 61 | 81 | 48 | 18 | 418 | 89 | 57 | 28 | 16 | 15 | 28 | 50 | 19 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 31 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | on | on | glassy | glassy | off | cross | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 8:24PM1.90m | 8:55AM1.87m | 9:18PM1.81m | 9:51AM1.81m | 10:14PM1.74m | 10:46AM1.78m | 11:08PM1.69m | 11:40AM1.76m | 00:01AM1.66m | 12:31PM1.76m | 00:50AM1.65m | 1:18PM1.77m | 1:36AM1.66m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:17PM0.18m | 2:43AM0.19m | 3:10PM0.27m | 3:34AM0.27m | 4:02PM0.36m | 4:24AM0.34m | 4:54PM0.42m | 5:13AM0.40m | 5:45PM0.47m | 6:01AM0.43m | 6:34PM0.49m | 6:48AM0.44m | 7:21PM0.48m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
Feels °C | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 15 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 7 | SSE 16 | ENE 4 | ENE 3 | E 15 | ENE 4 | E 13 | NE 5 | NE 6 | SE 3 |
| kJ | 78 | 61 | 81 | 48 | 18 | 418 | 64 | 57 | 28 | 16 | 15 | 5 | 50 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 15 | ESE 15 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | E 14 | E 12 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 17 | ENE 3 | SSE 14 | SE 12 | SE 10 | E 14 | S 10 | E 13 | E 13 | S 15 |
| kJ | 23 | 21 | 4 | 21 | 4 | 24 | 89 | 41 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 28 | 1 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 19 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | SE 4 | — | E 12 | ESE 12 | E 10 | ESE 13 | SE 11 | E 13 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 10 | S 16 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 13 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 84 | 2 | — | 12 | 15 | 8 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 2 | WSW 3 | S 11 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | — | N 3 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | N 3 | WNW 4 | NNE 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 6 | 235 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 8 | 3 | 31 | 8 | 8 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 194 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 33 | 40 | 4 | 31 | 33 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 45 | 586 | 20 |
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.
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