Taylors Mistake Surf Break

Lat Long: 43.58° S 172.78° E

Taylors Mistake Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 09 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Taylors Mistake sea temperature is
9.3° C
0.2° 

Taylors Mistake surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, ENE swell with 560 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Taylors Mistake in the next 16 days are 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) 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 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Sun 9th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 7s
Best Surf 9PM (Mon 10th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Most Powerful12AM (Thu 13th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Taylors Mistake over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – this is a lean run. We’ve got a long gap of nothing special before we see a proper window of opportunity.

The first solid recommendation doesn’t arrive until Thursday, 14 August. Before that, from Sunday the 9th right through to Wednesday the 13th, it’s pretty ordinary. The swell is tiny, mostly around 1 ft to 4 ft, and the wind is often cross-on or messy. The combined energy is weak, sitting under 200 (moderate at best) and mostly below 100 (85 to 199). The water temperature is 49°F with a 0.4°F anomaly, so about average for the time of year – nothing special there.

Thursday the 14th is where things perk up a little. The morning sees clean 3 ft swell from the ENE with a 8-second period and light offshore wind from the W at 6 mph. The afternoon holds clean 3 ft from the E with a 9-second period and a light cross-offshore breeze. Combined energy pushes up to 131 and 158, which is moderate. Surfable but nothing to write home about.

Friday the 15th is a write-off with strong winds and poor conditions.

Sunday the 16th is a bit better – morning brings clean 3 ft from the E, 10-second period, light offshore WSW wind at 6 mph, combined energy of 167. The afternoon stays clean with 2 ft and a gentle offshore. This is the pick of the first week, but still modest.

The real standout is Sunday, 23 August – that’s over a week away, so treat it as promising but not locked in. The morning session looks like the best on offer across the whole outlook. Swell is 2 ft from the E with a very long 15-second period, light offshore wind from the WSW at 3 mph, and glassy conditions. The combined energy jumps to 327, which is strong energy for this spot. That long period groundswell will bring proper shape and power, but it might break a bit too straight for the beachbreak – still, with clean conditions, it’s the day to circle on the calendar.

The rest of the second week is small and inconsistent. Monday the 24th has a glassy 2 ft from the E with a 12-second period but combined energy drops to 93 – weak.

Overall, this is a sparse outlook. Taylors Mistake is fairly consistent but the surf quality is mostly ordinary. When it’s poor for this long, it tends not to stay that way, so keep an eye on the forecasts. If you’re a beginner, the small clean days around 1 ft to 3 ft with offshore winds (like the 14th or 16th) will be your best bet. For everyone else, wait for Sunday the 23rd.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the NE by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.6
ENE
6
0.3
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
ESE
12
0.4
SE
12
0.5
SE
8
1.4
ENE
6
1.2
ENE
7
1.3
ENE
8
2.2
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
1
E
8
0.9
ENE
8
1
E
9
0.8
E
9
0.7
E
8
0.8
E
12
0.9
ENE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
61
76
21
14
30
57
49
28
140
135
191
560
123
120
121
109
154
94
71
184
187
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
5
NE
10
WSW
15
WSW
20
SW
10
SW
5
NE
20
ENE
30
NE
15
ENE
15
NE
15
NNE
15
NNE
20
NNE
10
ESE
5
WSW
10
SSW
20
SW
25
SW
35
SSW
25
WSW
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
1:00PM2.42m
1:29AM2.29m
1:56PM2.47m
2:26AM2.34m
2:51PM2.51m
3:21AM2.39m
3:46PM2.53m
4:13AM2.40m
4:40PM2.52m
5:06AM2.39m
5:33PM2.48m
6:01AM2.37m
6:26PM2.43m
Low Tide
7:21PM0.45m
7:36AM0.36m
8:15PM0.36m
8:33AM0.29m
9:09PM0.29m
9:31AM0.23m
10:03PM0.26m
10:27AM0.18m
10:59PM0.26m
11:21AM0.17m
11:53PM0.27m
12:13PM0.22m
00:46AM0.30m
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:31
7:31
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:24
7:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:40
5:42
5:43
 mm
2
1
1
5
2
Temp °C
10
12
9
11
9
8
9
10
9
11
13
12
16
16
11
13
12
9
10
8
7
Feels °C
7
11
6
6
4
5
5
5
2
7
9
9
11
12
9
10
10
6
4
0
0
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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