Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 17s period, SE swell with 138 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period with SSE 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 (Aug 24) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. 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 0.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 17s |
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 on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, this is a pretty bleak stretch. We’ve got a long run of tiny, weak swell and messy conditions, so don’t get your hopes up for any proper waves. The first real chance of anything ridable doesn’t show up until Monday morning the 24th of August, and even then, it’s a struggle.
The overall pattern is dominated by small, short-period windswell, very low energy, and a lot of onshore or cross-off winds that just mess things up. The combined swell energy is mostly in the weak range (under 100), with only a couple of days nudging into the low hundreds. For a spot like Taylors Mistake, which is fairly exposed, it’s just not getting the juice.
The only faint glimmer in this whole window comes on Monday morning, the 24th of August. We’ve got glassy conditions with a light offshore breeze, and a tiny 1.0ft SSE groundswell with a 14-second period giving it a bit of shape. The combined energy is a weak 59. It’s not going to be big, but for a beginner-friendly spot, those clean, glassy conditions make it the best of a bad bunch. Don’t expect much, but it’s the only time the ocean looks like it’s trying.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The 25th of August sees a tiny 3ft windswell from the north, but with a fresh 19 mph cross-off wind, it’s just messy. A few other mornings like the 27th and 28th of August offer glassy conditions but with swell so small (1ft) and energy so low (46-86), you’re just floating around. The 31st of August has a slightly higher combined energy of 104, but it’s a cross-onshore wind with small wind ripples and a weak 1ft SSE swell at 13 seconds – not worth the paddle out.
The second week doesn’t get any better. The 5th of September has a 3ft SSE swell with a combined energy of 135, but a fresh 19 mph cross-off wind will ruin any chance of a clean wave. The 6th of September is glassy again, but the swell is a tiny 1ft. It’s just one of those runs where the ocean is asleep.
So, honestly, the standout is that Monday morning, the 24th. It’s not a day to call in sick for, but if you’re desperate for a paddle and some clean, tiny waves, that’s your window. Everything else is a write-off. Keep an eye on the forecast, things can change, but for now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, near gales from the WNW by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Tue morning, calm by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 5 | SSE 11 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NE 9 | E 14 | E 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | E 14 | N 4 | E 14 | E 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 16 | SE 11 | SE 16 | SSE 12 | SE 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 11 | 18 | 52 | 39 | 15 | 16 | 41 | 36 | 16 | 36 | 15 | 15 | 87 | 51 | 29 | 63 | 27 | 64 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:37PM2.10m | 12:01PM2.19m | 00:24AM2.07m | 12:51PM2.17m | 1:12AM2.05m | 1:40PM2.16m | 2:01AM2.04m | 2:27PM2.16m | 2:47AM2.06m | 3:12PM2.17m | 3:31AM2.08m | 3:54PM2.19m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:45AM0.76m | 6:25PM0.80m | 6:29AM0.77m | 7:12PM0.80m | 7:14AM0.76m | 7:56PM0.77m | 8:01AM0.72m | 8:39PM0.73m | 8:50AM0.66m | 9:23PM0.67m | 9:39AM0.60m | 10:07PM0.61m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | SSE 10 | E 14 | NE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 11 | E 14 | E 14 | N 4 | SSE 15 | SSE 16 | SE 11 | SE 16 | SSE 12 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 18 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 39 | 14 | 16 | 41 | 36 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 87 | 51 | 29 | 63 | 27 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | E 15 | SE 10 | E 14 | NNE 5 | NNW 4 | E 14 | E 14 | ENE 5 | SE 10 | S 17 | S 17 | E 14 | E 13 | SSE 15 | E 13 | SSE 16 | SE 16 |
| kJ | 12 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 15 | 14 | 23 | 3 | 25 | 64 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 16 | SE 9 | E 14 | E 14 | NE 8 | NE 4 | E 14 | S 16 | S 9 | E 14 | N 5 | — | E 13 | ESE 13 | E 13 | E 12 |
| kJ | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 1 | — | 3 | 16 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 3 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | WSW 2 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | N 4 | N 4 | NNW 4 | SE 2 | — | SE 6 | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | N 6 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 18 | 52 | 28 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 36 | 17 | 1 | — | 9 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 166 | 185 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 36 | 36 | 22 | 52 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 31 | 32 |
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.
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