Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, ENE swell with 434 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period with NE 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. 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 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.
Honestly, the next 16 days are a tough stretch for a proper wave. The whole window is filled with small, weak, or messy conditions. There are long gaps with no real recommendations, and most days the surf is just too poor to get excited about. We’re looking at a real quiet spell, especially for a spot that usually picks up a bit more.
We kick off on Wednesday, August 26th afternoon with a bit of hope. Taylors Mistake has a tiny 0.7ft swell from the SSE, but the period is a massive 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, but it’s barely a ripple. The water is sitting at 51°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW, so it’s clean, but the energy is weak (54). It’s just surfable, nothing more.
The next actual surfable window doesn’t show up until Monday, August 31st morning. Again, a very small 2ft SSE swell with a long 14-second period. The wind is off from the WNW, so it’s clean, and the energy is moderate (116). It’s still very ordinary, but for a beginner-friendly spot like this, it’s a chance to get wet.
Then Tuesday, September 1st morning offers a similar story: 1ft SSE swell, 12-second period, offshore WNW wind, and clean. Energy is low (56). Again, just surfable.
Thursday, September 3rd has a weird one: a 1ft SSE swell with a *very* long 21-second period in the morning, and 20 seconds in the afternoon. That kind of period is usually for points and reefs, not a beach break like Taylors Mistake. It’ll be clean with cross-offshore winds, but it’s likely to be too straight and weak. Energy is moderate (177 and 133).
Sunday, September 6th morning is glassy with a 3ft swell from the north, but it’s a short 4-second period. That’s just windswell, and it’s weak (20). Not worth a paddle.
Monday, September 7th morning brings a 3ft ENE swell with a 9-second period, clean cross-offshore wind, and moderate energy (154). The swell is still small, but it’s the most energy we see all week.
The best of the whole run, if you can call it that, is Thursday, September 10th afternoon. A 2ft SSE swell with a 13-second period, clean cross-offshore wind from the north, and the highest energy in the whole forecast at 181. It’s still small, but it’s the cleanest, most promising window for a few fun, small waves. The standouts? Hard to find any, but this is the one.
For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a dry spell. It won’t last forever, and forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the NE by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SE 17 | SSE 17 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
29 | 309 | 100 | 107 | 164 | 334 | 173 | 69 | 110 | 23 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 139 | 111 | 67 | 44 | 54 | 24 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | off | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:27AM2.20m | 6:45PM2.26m | 7:16AM2.24m | 7:37PM2.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:32PM0.47m | 1:01AM0.48m | 1:19PM0.49m | 1:48AM0.50m | |||||||
— | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | 10 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | S 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NW 4 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SE 10 | NE 4 |
11 | 1663 | 100 | 94 | 30 | 14 | 173 | 69 | 34 | 23 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 139 | 111 | 67 | 44 | 54 | 24 | 6 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 17 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | — | SSE 11 | NNW 3 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | E 9 | NNW 3 | S 16 | E 9 | SSE 12 | SE 9 |
29 | 32 | 15 | 13 | 5 | — | 13 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | NNE 7 | — | — | — | — | E 15 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | S 9 | SE 12 | — | E 11 | E 10 | NE 4 | — | E 10 | S 12 |
14 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 6 | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 17 | E 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NNW 3 | — | NE 8 | — | — | NNW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | NW 2 | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNW 2 |
— | 309 | 15 | 107 | 164 | 334 | 10 | — | 110 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 32 | 250 | 63 | 52 | 31 | 0 | 31 | 4 | 22 | 31 | 162 | 264 | 0 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 133 |
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.











