Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, ESE swell with 395 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. 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 0.8m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) 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 17s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for New Brighton Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, the first week or so is a bit of a struggle. The opening days are more about waiting than waving. We’ve got a tiny, inconsistent swell and a lot of wind issues. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come around until Monday, the 24th of August, but don’t get your hopes up. That morning, the swell is a mere 1 ft from the SSE, with a period of 14 seconds. The wind is glassy out of the WNW, which is a beautiful thing to see, but the wave energy is weak, barely registering (56). It’s surfable, but you’d be scratching for anything decent. The water temp is about what you’d expect for this time of year.
The rest of that week and into the next is a write-off. We’ve got a long gap with no real standouts. Tuesday the 25th sees a bump in swell size to 3 ft, but it’s a short-period, 4-second wind swell from the NNW, and the wind is howling at 30 mph. It’s a mess. The conditions stay poor right through until the morning of Friday the 28th. That morning brings a bit of hope with 4 ft of NE swell, a 7-second period, and glassy, 5 mph winds from the E. The energy is moderate (202), but it’s still a bit of a gamble. The afternoon onshore kills it.
The weekend and Monday are flat or plagued by onshore winds. Then, on the 1st of September, Tuesday afternoon, we get a pulse of energy. The swell is only 2 ft, but it’s from the SE with a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy jumps to 231 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-off from the NNW. The problem is the size is tiny, and at a beach break, that long period might make it break a bit too straight for a good wall. It’s worth a look if you’re desperate for a glide.
The real standout, and the only one worth circling on the calendar, is the morning of Friday, the 4th of September. This is a long way off, so it’s a watch-and-see situation, but the signs are good. We’ve got a solid 3 ft swell from the SSE, with a 17-second period. The combined energy is strong at 624. The wind is glassy out of the NE, 5 mph. That’s clean, lined-up groundswell. For a beginner-friendly spot like New Brighton, this is the best on offer. The size is manageable for learners, and the clean conditions will make it fun for everyone. The crowd factor is listed as "sometimes," so you might have some company, but it shouldn’t be a zoo.
The rest of the forecast into the second week is a mix of small, weak swells and poor wind. The Sunday morning on the 6th of September has a clean offshore wind, but the swell is only 1 ft. It’s a low-energy period. So, if you’re keen, your best bet is to wait for that Friday morning on the 4th. It’s a long way out, but it’s the only real promise in the whole 16-day window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NW by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu night, min 8°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Thu morning, calm by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | ESE 14 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | SSE 17 | E 13 | ESE 17 | ESE 18 | SSE 17 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | SE 14 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | 40 | 37 | 40 | 25 | 24 | 56 | 14 | 111 | 395 | 119 | 155 | 120 | 165 | 103 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 25 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:36AM1.66m | 2:03PM1.79m | 2:20AM1.68m | 2:45PM1.82m | 3:01AM1.70m | 3:26PM1.84m | 3:42AM1.72m | 4:06PM1.86m | 4:22AM1.75m | 4:46PM1.87m | 5:03AM1.77m | 5:26PM1.87m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:34AM0.42m | 8:07PM0.46m | 8:18AM0.39m | 8:51PM0.43m | 9:02AM0.35m | 9:34PM0.38m | 9:45AM0.31m | 10:17PM0.34m | 10:30AM0.28m | 11:00PM0.31m | 11:15AM0.26m | 11:44PM0.28m | |||||||
— | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 3 |
Temp °C | 9 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
Feels °C | 4 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 16 | E 14 | E 14 | N 3 | E 13 | E 13 | S 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
11 | 40 | 37 | 26 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 1526 | 119 | 109 | 31 | 37 | 103 | 27 | 17 | 27 | 25 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | S 16 | S 18 | E 14 | S 17 | S 16 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | E 16 | — | SSE 11 | SE 14 | SE 11 | ENE 7 | ESE 12 |
15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 237 | 32 | 16 | 13 | 5 | — | 25 | 32 | 30 | 9 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | E 8 | E 7 | ESE 14 | S 9 | S 9 | ESE 14 | NE 5 | ENE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 15 | SSE 11 | SSE 3 | ESE 13 | ENE 7 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 11 | 2 | 17 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | NNW 3 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | SSE 17 | E 3 | ESE 17 | ESE 18 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NNW 3 | — | SW 3 | SSW 2 | — |
6 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 56 | 4 | 111 | 395 | 53 | 155 | 120 | 165 | 10 | — | 1 | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 20 | 0 | 9 | 40 | 49 | 49 | 0 | 40 | 40 | 45 | 177 | 154 | 40 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 4 |
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.











