Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 14s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, ESE swell with 395 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 14s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Taylors Mistake this week:
The surf forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s is also forecast. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Taylors Mistake in the next 16 days are 0.8m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 17s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks. I’m lookin’ at Taylors Mistake, and straight up, it’s a lean spell. The first decent chance doesn’t pop up until Friday the 28th of August, so we’re sittin’ through a few days of tiny, junk waves before that.
Early stuff is pretty much a write-off. Monday the 24th has a morning bump of 1ft from the SSE, but the energy is weak – only 59 – and with the wind glassy, it’s surfable but just ordinary. The rest of the week is dominated by onshore and cross-off winds, with swell barely crackin’ 1ft. The water temp is sittin’ around 50°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothin’ wild there.
Friday the 28th of August is where we finally get a pulse. The morning brings 3ft from the ENE with a short period of 7 seconds, but it’s glassy – wind is light from the SW. That’s worth paddlin’ out for. The afternoon is even better: 4ft from the ENE, 8-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 210 – moderate energy, decent push. Wind is dead calm. Clean, glassy waves, and Taylors is a pretty forgiving beginner spot. Just a heads up, it can get a bit busy here sometimes, but for this size, you’ll find your own corner.
Monday the 31st of August has a late arvo pulse of 2ft from the SSE with a very long period of 19 seconds – groundswell energy. The combined energy is 282, so there’s some punch in the water. But the wind is light cross-onshore, puttin’ a bit of texture on it. That long period will see the waves breakin’ a bit straight, but Taylors handles it alright.
Into Saturday the 5th of September, we see a mornin’ window – 2ft from the NE with a 9-second period, wind offshore from the WSW. Gentle and clean. Not a standout, but a little fun window for the early crew.
Sunday the 6th of September is the real standout of the whole period. The morning session is magic: 1ft from the SSE, but the period is a massive 20 seconds – that’s very long-period groundswell. The combined energy is 138, so it’s got a bit of grunt. And the wind is dead calm, glassy as a mirror. That’s about as clean as it gets for Taylors. The waves will be smooth, lined up, and with that long period, expect longer lulls between sets but the ones that come through will be proper. Paddlin’ out will be easier between sets, and if you’re on a point or reef setup, it’ll be even better.
Beyond that, the second week dries up again with tiny junk and onshore winds. So the call is pretty clear: Friday the 28th of August arvo and Sunday the 6th of September mornin’ are your best bets. Don’t sleep on that glassy Sunday session.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NW by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu night, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Thu night, calm by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 14 | E 14 | ESE 14 | E 14 | E 14 | SSE 17 | E 13 | SSE 17 | ESE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | SE 11 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
41 | 16 | 40 | 15 | 15 | 29 | 14 | 28 | 390 | 117 | 86 | 103 | 90 | 173 | 46 | 29 | 17 | 24 | 13 | 7 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | on | off |
High Tide | 1:40PM2.16m | 2:01AM2.04m | 2:27PM2.16m | 2:47AM2.06m | 3:12PM2.17m | 3:31AM2.08m | 3:54PM2.19m | 4:13AM2.11m | 4:35PM2.22m | 4:55AM2.13m | 5:15PM2.25m | 5:40AM2.16m | 5:58PM2.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:56PM0.77m | 8:01AM0.72m | 8:39PM0.73m | 8:50AM0.66m | 9:23PM0.67m | 9:39AM0.60m | 10:07PM0.61m | 10:24AM0.54m | 10:51PM0.55m | 11:06AM0.50m | 11:34PM0.51m | 11:48AM0.47m | 00:17AM0.49m | ||||||||
7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
— | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 9 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | SSE 8 | SSE 16 | E 14 | E 14 | N 4 | E 13 | SSE 17 | S 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 4 | SE 6 |
41 | 7 | 26 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 14 | 28 | 1702 | 117 | 86 | 33 | 37 | 173 | 46 | 15 | 15 | 24 | 13 | 1 | 7 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | S 16 | S 18 | SSE 17 | S 17 | E 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 15 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | NE 3 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
15 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 25 | 29 | 6 | 14 | 32 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 23 | 29 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | S 14 | ESE 14 | S 10 | S 9 | E 14 | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | E 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | NE 4 |
3 | 15 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 15 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 2 | NNE 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | — | SE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 18 | E 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | NNW 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — |
— | 1 | 20 | 28 | 26 | — | 2 | 1 | 390 | 27 | 67 | 103 | 90 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 31 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 162 | 175 | 63 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 22 | 31 | 31 |
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 Taylors Mistake Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Taylors Mistake provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Taylors Mistake can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Taylors Mistake 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 (Taylors Mistake) 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 Taylors Mistake 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 Taylors Mistake, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Canterbury, consider staying in Christchurch which is 10 km (6 miles) away.











