Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 23s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 23s period, SSE swell with 1,798 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 18s. 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 1.3m 23s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 23s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 23s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here.
Look, I’ll be straight with you—this isn’t a run that’s gonna have you phoning in sick. The next 16 days at New Brighton Beach are a real mixed bag, with a few bright spots early on and then a whole lot of waiting. There’s a noticeable gap from the 22nd of July right through the end of the month where the good stuff just isn’t there, so don’t get your hopes up for a long stretch of fun.
The best window is actually this weekend. Saturday, 18 July afternoon is the standout. The swell pushes up to 4ft from the SSE with a very long period of 23 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is a solid 2532 (moderate to strong), and the wind is glassy from the WNW. That’s going to be clean, lined-up, and powerful. It’s a bit much for beginners, but for experienced surfers, it’s the pick of the fortnight. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there.
Saturday morning is also worth a look – 3ft from the east with a 15-second period and cross-offshore winds. It’ll be clean and fun, though not as grunty as the afternoon. The combined energy is 869 (moderate), so still some push.
Friday morning, the 17th, brings a glassy 3ft east swell with a long 17-second period. The energy is low (494), but it’s clean. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.
After that, it really drops off. From Monday the 20th onwards, the swell gets smaller and the wind turns messy. There’s a long stretch from the 22nd of July to the 31st where the scores are poor, and the swell is tiny or wind-blown. The 26th of July actually has a 6ft ESE swell, but it’s blowing a near gale cross-onshore – that’s a full-on blown-out mess, more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers.
The very end of the run, on the 31st of July and 1st of August, shows a tiny uptick with clean 2ft to 2ft swells, but the energy is weak and the waves are small. It’s a little tease for the future, but not worth planning around.
So, bottom line: your best bet is Saturday afternoon, 18 July at New Brighton Beach. Get it while it’s good. After that, it’s a long dry spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | E 17 | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | SSE 23 | SSE 21 | E 13 | SSE 19 | E 12 | SSE 19 | SSE 19 | SSE 17 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | E 11 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 270 | 465 | 520 | 484 | 447 | 1798 | 763 | 130 | 486 | 77 | 207 | 312 | 170 | 37 | 33 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | on | off | cross-off | glassy | off | glassy | on | cross-on | off | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | off | off | on | on |
High Tide | 6:34AM2.05m | 7:05PM2.18m | 7:31AM2.01m | 8:00PM2.09m | 8:28AM1.95m | 8:56PM2.00m | 9:27AM1.89m | 9:51PM1.90m | 10:24AM1.84m | 10:47PM1.81m | 11:21AM1.80m | 11:41PM1.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:33AM0.00m | 12:52PM-0.04m | 1:28AM0.02m | 1:48PM0.02m | 2:22AM0.06m | 2:44PM0.10m | 3:15AM0.12m | 3:38PM0.20m | 4:07AM0.19m | 4:33PM0.29m | 4:58AM0.27m | 5:26PM0.37m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 17 | E 17 | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | SSE 19 | SSE 19 | SSE 17 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 270 | 465 | 520 | 484 | 447 | 333 | 246 | 130 | 125 | 77 | 207 | 312 | 170 | 37 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSE 16 | S 16 | S 19 | SSE 23 | SSE 23 | SSE 21 | SSE 16 | SSE 19 | SSE 14 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | NE 4 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | E 11 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 5 | 26 | 5 | 7 | 422 | 401 | 253 | 51 | 122 | 36 | 49 | 48 | 27 | 25 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | NNE 4 | — | S 20 | — | SSE 23 | SSE 21 | SE 21 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | SSE 17 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 11 | SE 10 | E 11 |
| kJ | 67 | 3 | — | 31 | — | 1798 | 763 | 18 | 486 | 31 | 6 | 3 | — | 28 | 24 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 20 | 0 | 45 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 20 | 33 | 43 |
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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