Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, SE swell with 834 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s period with E 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Taylors Mistake in the next 16 days are 1.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, let’s talk about Taylors Mistake for the next couple of weeks.
It starts off a bit average, then we get a clean little run of fun surf before the wind wrecks it. Water temp is about 49°F, nothing out of the ordinary for the season.
Monday 27 July is just okay. Waist-high 3ft easterly swell, 13-second period, light offshore in the morning turning glassy in the afternoon. It’s surfable but weak – energy is low. Not much to get excited about.
Tuesday 28 July is better. Glassy conditions all day with a 4ft easterly swell. Energy is moderate now, and it’s clean. Good for a longboard or a beginner. Crowds can show up sometimes, so aim for early.
Wednesday 29 July keeps the glassy texture. 3ft easterly swell, still clean in the morning. By afternoon it drops a bit but stays tidy.
Thursday 30 July starts glassy but the arvo brings a fresh north wind at 16 mph, and it gets messy. That’s the end of the smooth stuff for a while.
From Friday 31 July through Sunday 2 August, it’s poor. Strong winds, onshore or cross-off, and lumpy surf. Saturday has a long 16-second swell but it’s only 1ft and blown out by 22 mph SW winds. Not for paddling – better for a kite if you’re into that.
Now here’s your standout: Monday 3 August. This is the one. Morning offshore, clean, with a 5ft southeasterly groundswell at 14 seconds. Energy is strong – 822 in the afternoon glass-off. Expect very good surf. This is proper shoulder-high and will have some grunt. At a point like Taylors, those long-period lines will be sweet for a performance board.
Tuesday 4 August is still decent with 4ft groundswell and clean morning conditions. Good, but not the highlight.
From Wednesday 5 August on, it fades. Size drops, wind turns easterly onshore, and by 8-9 August we’re down to tiny 1ft waves with long periods that won’t do much. The last few days are flat and choppy.
So here’s the take: Monday 3 August is your day. The earlier stuff (28-29 July) is fine for a cruise, but the real deal is that first Monday of August. After that, hang up the wetsuit for a while.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 4°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 4°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, strong winds from the SW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 13 | E 13 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | ENE 8 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | SE 11 | SSE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 222 | 219 | 293 | 417 | 417 | 350 | 276 | 209 | 190 | 141 | 101 | 63 | 44 | 37 | 38 | 99 | 121 | 121 | 653 | 431 | 511 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:03PM2.21m | 3:23AM2.08m | 3:47PM2.20m | 4:05AM2.07m | 4:29PM2.19m | 4:46AM2.07m | 5:09PM2.19m | 5:29AM2.06m | 5:49PM2.20m | 6:13AM2.06m | 6:29PM2.20m | 6:58AM2.07m | 7:12PM2.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:18PM0.76m | 9:26AM0.70m | 10:00PM0.73m | 10:12AM0.65m | 10:43PM0.68m | 10:56AM0.59m | 11:27PM0.62m | 11:37AM0.54m | 00:09AM0.57m | 12:17PM0.51m | 00:50AM0.53m | 12:59PM0.50m | 1:31AM0.52m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | |  |  | |  |  |  |  | | | |  | |
 | 7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — |
 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 7 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Feels °C | 4 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | -4 | -3 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 13 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | SE 11 | E 16 | SE 13 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 222 | 219 | 293 | 417 | 417 | 350 | 276 | 209 | 190 | 141 | 101 | 63 | 44 | 33 | 24 | 99 | 121 | 121 | 5 | 431 | 511 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | S 17 | S 16 | E 18 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ENE 11 | E 11 | ESE 14 | — | E 16 | NE 15 |
| kJ | 131 | 103 | 53 | 34 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 38 | 37 | 38 | 22 | 9 | 76 | — | 5 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 6 | — | — | — | S 16 | SSW 14 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | — | E 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 18 | E 11 | NE 10 | E 10 | — | — | S 23 |
| kJ | 9 | 9 | — | — | — | 5 | 70 | 6 | 6 | 48 | 45 | — | 5 | 24 | 31 | 35 | 15 | 2 | — | — | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NNW 3 | SW 4 | S 12 | S 12 | — | SSE 13 | SW 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 13 | 43 | 13 | 3 | 43 | 356 | 266 | — | 653 | 6 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 52 | 133 | 31 | 133 | 181 | 181 | 1 | 181 | 216 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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