Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SSE 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★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 17s is also forecast. 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 0.9m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| 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, let me break this down as Rusty for you.
G’day surfers, Rusty here. Let’s be straight up about the outlook for Taylors Mistake. Honestly, looking over the next 16 days, it’s a bleak stretch. There are a few moments where the ocean might offer something, but for the most part, you’re looking at a whole lot of flatness and poor conditions. This area just ain’t gonna fire for a while.
We start off with nothing. Tuesday the 25th of August through to the end of the month is a dead loss – tiny 0.7ft to 2ft swells, mostly onshore or cross-off winds, and the wave energy is pathetic, with values ranging from a measly 15 to just over 184 (combined energy of all swells). The water temp is sittin’ at 50°F, which is about average for this time of year, so a bit chilly.
The first glimmer of something, and I mean a very faint glimmer, comes right at the end of the month. On Monday the 31st of August, the early morning looks interesting. We’ve got a clean, glassy start with light offshore winds from the west at 6 mph. The swell is tiny though, only 1ft, comin’ out of the SSE with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, so the wave shape should be decent, but it’s barely pushin’ any water – combined energy of all swells is only 87. It’s surfable, but you’ll be scratchin’ for anything rideable. The water temp is missin’ for that record, but the air is clear. For a beginner spot, it’s safe but forgettable.
Then we hit a massive gap. From the 31st of August afternoon, right through to the 9th of September, there’s practically nothin’ worth paddlin’ out for. The waves rarely top 1ft to 2ft, and when they do, like on Friday the 28th of August where we saw a 6ft swell from the ENE, the wind was a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph, makin’ it a lumpy, choppy mess. That one had some moderate energy (366 combined energy of all swells), but it’s no good for anyone.
If there’s one standout, and it’s a weak one, it’s that Monday mornin’ the 31st of August. It’s clean, glassy, light wind, and that long-period SSE swell should wrap in nicely. But at 1ft? You’re not gonna get much more than a knee-high ripple. The crowd factor at Taylors Mistake can be “sometimes” busy, but with conditions this poor, odds are you’ll have the place to yourself.
The forecast confidence for the second week drops off, and honestly, it doesn’t matter. The patterns are just flat and windy. This is a write-off for the next 16 days. The swell energy stays low (mostly under 100) and the winds are rarely kind. The best advice? Don’t bother gettin’ your hopes up. For a fairly consistent spot like Taylors Mistake, this kind of blank run is unusual, but it happens. Forecasts can change, but for now, leave the boards in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the NE by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 3°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSE 17 | E 14 | ESE 13 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | E 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | S 3 | SE 7 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
15 | 30 | 14 | 34 | 101 | 116 | 107 | 113 | 339 | 173 | 46 | 171 | 34 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 30 | 52 | 21 | 16 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 2:47AM2.06m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:39PM0.73m | 8:50AM0.66m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | -2 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | SSE 17 | E 14 | NE 4 | ESE 5 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SE 12 | SE 13 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
15 | 30 | 14 | 4 | 15 | 116 | 107 | 39 | 27 | 173 | 46 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 30 | 33 | 18 | 8 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | E 14 | S 17 | E 13 | SSE 17 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | — | SSE 11 | SE 14 | SSE 10 | ESE 13 | ENE 7 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ENE 9 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 |
25 | 15 | 23 | 14 | 101 | 25 | 13 | 13 | — | 12 | 29 | 147 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 52 | 21 | 16 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | NE 5 | E 11 | ESE 13 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | SE 15 | SSE 10 | SE 13 | S 14 | SE 12 | S 9 | — | SE 12 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 10 |
2 | 1 | 2 | 34 | 13 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 10 | 44 | 4 | 6 | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | N 4 | N 4 | SSE 17 | S 6 | E 3 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NNW 4 | — | E 13 | ENE 8 | — | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | — |
17 | 10 | 10 | 29 | 22 | 5 | 64 | 113 | 339 | 25 | — | 171 | 34 | — | — | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 1 | 8 | 89 | 0 | 32 | 225 | 63 | 63 | 151 | 1 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 133 | 133 | 151 | 0 | 31 | 22 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











