
Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 15s period, E swell with 1,225 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s 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 (Jul 24) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. 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 1.7m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's get into it. Rusty here, looking at the next 16 days for Taylors Mistake.
First off, the water is running about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The good news is, after a pretty average start, we’ve got a run of decent surf building from the end of the week.
The first few days are a write-off. Wednesday, the 22nd, through to Friday, the 24th, are mostly flat with tiny, short-period dribble that’s not worth paddling out for. The wind is messy, and the energy is just not there – you’re looking at combined wave energy readings in the teens and low 40s, which is barely a bump. Saturday the 25th is still poor, but by Sunday morning the 26th, the energy starts to lift with a 2-foot easterly swell and a long period of 15 seconds. The conditions are still very ordinary, but there’s a pulse coming.
The real standout is from Tuesday the 28th into Wednesday the 29th. Tuesday morning is the pick of the whole forecast. The swell jumps to 6 feet from the east, with a nice long 15-second period, and the glassy offshore nor’west wind will have it looking clean. The combined energy hits 1225, which is proper. That’s the kind of morning you set the alarm for.
Wednesday the 29th is also excellent. The swell drops a touch to 5 feet, but you’ve got a clean offshore west wind of 15 km/h. The period stays long at 13 seconds, and the energy is high at 673. It’s going to be well-shaped and lined up.
Thursday the 30th holds up well in the morning too, with 5 feet of east swell and a 14-second period, but the wind turns more cross-off by the afternoon, so get it early.
After that, the swell slowly fades through the end of the month and into the first week of August. There’s a fun little window Friday the 31st with 3 feet and glassy conditions in the afternoon, and the first of August has some clean, small waves. But by the 2nd of August, it’s dropping back to 2 feet and becoming ordinary again.
There’s a late spike on Wednesday the 5th of August with a 3-foot swell from the south-southeast, but the wind is strong and messy, so it’s hard to get excited about that.
So, to sum it up: the best on offer is Tuesday morning, the 28th of July. That 6-foot east swell with glassy conditions is your go-to. Wednesday the 29th morning is a close second. The rest is either too small, too windy, or just ordinary. Taylors is a friendly beginner spot, and remember, it can get crowded there sometimes, so get out early for the good ones.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Fri night, min 3°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 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) | SSE 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ESE 18 | E 16 | E 15 | E 14 | E 13 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 40 | 29 | 34 | 17 | 61 | 132 | 157 | 148 | 92 | 145 | 953 | 929 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:34PM2.23m | 11:00AM2.26m | 11:24PM2.18m | 11:52AM2.24m | 00:13AM2.14m | 12:42PM2.23m | 1:02AM2.11m | 1:30PM2.22m | 1:51AM2.09m | 2:18PM2.22m | 2:39AM2.08m | 3:03PM2.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:46AM0.55m | 5:15PM0.70m | 5:37AM0.63m | 6:12PM0.76m | 6:24AM0.69m | 7:05PM0.79m | 7:08AM0.73m | 7:52PM0.79m | 7:52AM0.75m | 8:36PM0.78m | 8:38AM0.74m | 9:18PM0.76m | |||||||
— | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
Feels °C | 6 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -3 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | ENE 5 | E 11 | E 11 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | E 11 | E 12 | NE 4 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 16 | E 15 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 |
12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 34 | 16 | 21 | 132 | 157 | 41 | 79 | 145 | 953 | 929 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | E 11 | NE 4 | SE 12 | E 12 | E 12 | S 10 | S 9 | ENE 9 | SE 13 | SE 6 | ESE 18 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 |
2 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 7 | 9 | 61 | 40 | 38 | 148 | 92 | 125 | 27 | 45 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 14 | E 12 | S 18 | ESE 13 | ESE 4 | SE 6 | S 13 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 16 | — | — |
9 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 2 | 10 | 82 | 35 | 35 | 81 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | N 3 | SSE 4 | S 3 | SW 3 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | S 13 | WSW 2 | WSW 3 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | 16 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 54 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 22 | 22 | 31 | 31 | 35 | 304 | 162 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 181 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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.










