
Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, E swell with 1,596 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period with ENE 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 (Jul 07) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.7m and 9s. 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 2.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here again, let's break it down in feet.
It's gonna be a slow start for sure. The water's sitting right around 51°F, which is totally normal for this time of year – nothing weird going on there.
Sunday afternoon at Taylors Mistake has a small 3ft ENE swell, period around 9 seconds, with weak energy (181). The cross-off wind keeps it clean, but it's just a limp paddle.
Monday and Tuesday are mostly ordinary. Tuesday morning sees a jump to 8ft of short-period ENE swell at 9 seconds, combined energy up to a strong 1577. Problem is the cross-shore wind and rain mean messy conditions – one for the hardcore crew only. The afternoon cleans up nicely with a cross-off breeze and still 8ft waves. If you're experienced, that Tuesday afternoon session is the standout for the early period.
Wednesday the 8th brings a 5ft east swell with an 11-second groundswell period, combined energy at a moderate 623. Light cross-off winds make for clean, fun waves. Good for most folks.
Thursday the 9th gets blown out by strong winds. Friday the 10th is better with lighter winds and 4-5ft east swell – clean and reliable.
But the real gem is Saturday the 11th morning. A 4ft east swell with true offshore wind from the WSW, gentle breeze, and it's described as "gentle offshore and clean." Crowds are only 'sometimes' an issue, so you'll have room to move. This is the session to pencil in.
From Sunday the 12th to Tuesday the 15th, it's tiny – 2ft to 3ft, with energy dropping as low as 66. Glassy conditions but no real swell to ride. A solid gap of quiet days.
Then, looking ahead to Thursday the 16th of July, there's a new pulse: a 7ft NE swell, but with a short 8-second period, and combined energy of 723. Winds are light cross-off so it'll be clean, just a bit fat. A promising but less certain longer-range option. After that, it's back to small onshore slop through the end of the forecast.
So, main takeaway: Saturday the 11th morning is your clean fun session, and Tuesday the 7th afternoon for the experts. The middle of the month is a no-go, but Thursday the 16th might serve up a late surprise.
Keep your eyes on the forecast.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 10°C on Sun afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun night, light winds from the SSW by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed afternoon, min 5°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 18 | ESE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
181 | 110 | 65 | 276 | 249 | 1037 | 949 | 394 | 543 | 1596 | 658 | 459 | 468 | 479 | 459 | 375 | 290 | 319 | 259 | 198 | 154 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | off |
High Tide | 8:28PM2.12m | 9:00AM2.03m | 9:17PM2.12m | 9:45AM2.08m | 10:08PM2.14m | 10:33AM2.14m | 10:59PM2.17m | 11:24AM2.22m | 11:51PM2.21m | 12:20PM2.31m | 00:47AM2.25m | 1:17PM2.41m | 1:46AM2.30m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:45AM0.57m | 2:55PM0.59m | 3:31AM0.57m | 3:45PM0.60m | 4:21AM0.57m | 4:39PM0.62m | 5:14AM0.55m | 5:37PM0.62m | 6:07AM0.50m | 6:38PM0.58m | 7:00AM0.45m | 7:38PM0.50m | 7:54AM0.38m | ||||||||
— | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | |
5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | 5:08 | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 6 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
Feels °C | 5 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
181 | 110 | 65 | 43 | 120 | 1037 | 949 | 394 | 543 | 1596 | 658 | 459 | 468 | 479 | 459 | 375 | 290 | 319 | 259 | 198 | 154 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSW 6 | E 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 16 | S 15 | SE 7 | SSW 13 | S 18 | SSW 16 | S 21 | S 13 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 21 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 |
19 | 25 | 50 | 47 | 40 | 119 | 104 | 17 | 55 | 158 | 198 | 36 | 87 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 21 | S 19 | S 17 | S 16 | — | — | S 14 | S 19 | SSW 18 | — | S 21 | S 19 | — | — | — | S 15 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | — |
— | 35 | 173 | 214 | 127 | — | — | 4 | 29 | 61 | — | 35 | 116 | — | — | — | 70 | 39 | 22 | 20 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | WSW 2 | SSW 19 | SSE 18 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | SSE 7 | SE 6 | E 11 | SSW 16 | — | S 19 | — | — | — | W 3 | — | — | — | — |
3 | 1 | 122 | 276 | 249 | 540 | 497 | 180 | 80 | 599 | 52 | — | 7 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 228 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 181 | 181 | 181 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











