
Surf Forecasts:
New Brighton Beach surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period, SE swell with 119 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with SE 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 08) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 4s 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 0.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for New Brighton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for New Brighton Beach. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it – most of it is a write-off for a proper surf. You'll be waiting a while for anything worth getting excited about.
We start off in a tough spot. From Thursday the 3rd right through to Monday the 7th, it’s all poor surf conditions. A messy 3ft windswell with a short 4-second period on Thursday won’t give you anything to work with, and it just gets smaller with strong, clean winds that don't have enough wave energy behind them. The combined energy is low, hovering in the weak range (39-90). The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.
It looks like we finally get a little pulse on Tuesday the 8th. The morning offers up 2ft of swell from the SE with an 11-second period, and the combined energy hits a moderate but still weak 85. The wind is light offshore from the WSW, leaving the surface clean. It’s barely surfable, but it’s the first honest chance you’ll get. The afternoon stays clean but the energy drops off.
The real standout, if you can call it that, comes on Friday the 11th. The early morning session is looking like the pick of the entire period. The wind goes dead calm – glassy conditions – with a small 1ft SE groundswell carrying a very long 14-second period. The combined energy pushes up to 97, which is still on the lower end of moderate, but that long period and glassy surface will make for some clean, soft lines. It’s a bit of a fickle one, given the break is inconsistent, so you’ll want to be out there early to catch the few sets that roll through. This isn’t a beginner wave given it’s small and weak, but it’s the best the charts are showing for a while.
From Saturday the 12th through to the end of the outlook, it falls away again. We see a period of strong, lumpy cross-onshore winds and tiny swell. Tuesday the 15th afternoon actually has some energy spike to a combined 396 (moderate) with 2ft from the SSE at 16 seconds, but a strong breeze leaves it looking messy. For the rest of the time, you’re mostly looking at clean conditions but no real swell to push through. It’s a lean run.
Keep an eye on that Friday the 11th morning if you want a quiet, peaceful paddle on a glassy ocean, but don’t expect much push. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Fri morning, light winds from the WSW by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun night, calm by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 12 | N 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | ENE 9 | SE 11 | N 3 | NNW 4 | NNE 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
37 | 23 | 9 | 16 | 87 | 53 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 28 | 23 | 20 | 81 | 6 | 7 | 74 | 75 | 96 | 90 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 1:59PM2.08m | 2:22AM1.95m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:36AM0.10m | 8:13PM0.14m | |||||||
— | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 8 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 9 | SE 10 | S 9 | ENE 9 | NE 6 | E 8 | S 9 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | NE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
37 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 53 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 81 | 6 | 7 | 74 | 75 | 96 | 90 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | S 11 | E 11 | E 11 | S 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 14 | E 10 | E 11 | SSW 10 | N 3 | SE 4 | SSW 15 | SE 12 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | S 21 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 22 | 9 | 2 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | E 11 | E 10 | S 19 | S 16 | E 11 | S 8 | S 12 | E 7 | SE 9 | — | SE 8 | S 16 | — | — | ENE 10 | E 8 | — | E 16 |
6 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 5 | — | — | 9 | 1 | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NW 4 | NW 4 | N 3 | NNW 4 | NNE 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | — | SSW 4 | S 11 | — | — | S 3 | NNE 2 |
14 | 23 | 9 | 16 | 87 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 28 | 23 | 20 | — | 24 | 143 | — | — | 2 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 154 | 47 | 33 | 43 | 49 | 43 | 124 | 43 | 177 | 155 | 33 | 43 | 0 | 33 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










