Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 14s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, NE swell with 115 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 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 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. 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 0.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Taylors Mistake over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with ya – it’s a pretty quiet run. The swell energy is low, and most days the waves are just too small or sloppy to get properly excited about.
We kick off on Saturday the 22nd of August with practically nothing – 0.7ft of SSE swell and a period around 11 seconds, but the wind is a cross-off from the NNW at 9 mph. It’s clean but tiny. The combined energy is only 15, so it’s weak. Water temp is 50°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. Not worth paddling out for.
Sunday the 23rd is no better: 2ft from the NE with a short 9-second period and howling WNW winds at 31 mph in the morning. That’s a near gale – definitely not surfable. Afternoon eases to 22 mph offshore, but the swell is still pathetic at 1ft.
Monday the 24th is the closest we get to a highlight in this stretch. A glassy morning with 1ft from the SSE and a very long period of 15 seconds. That long period means the wave energy is moderate (109), but the size is so small it’s really just for the longboard or a fun paddle. The calm wind makes it clean, but it’s still ordinary. Afternoon goes cross-off and drops to 1ft.
From Tuesday the 25th through to Thursday the 27th, it’s a mix of tiny swell (0.7ft to 1ft) and onshore or cross-onshore winds. On Thursday afternoon, the swell jumps to 5ft but it’s short-period junk from the NE at 6 seconds and cross-onshore at 16 mph, giving a choppy mess. Energy hits 183, which is moderate, but the quality is poor.
Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th stay small – 1ft to 2ft – with offshore winds on Saturday morning (WSW 6 mph) and 2ft from the NE at 8 seconds. Clean but not enough push.
Sunday the 30th is tiny again – 1ft from the ENE with a gentle offshore. Not worth wetsuiting up for.
Monday the 31st brings a slight pulse: 1ft from the SSE but with a very long period of 17 to 19 seconds, pushing the combined energy up to 148. That’s moderate energy, but the wind is cross-on from the NE at 9 mph, so it’s choppy. Still, the long period and size are too small to generate any real waves at a beach break like Taylors – it’ll break straight. Best left for another day.
Into the first week of September, it’s the same story – tiny swell (0.7ft to 1ft), mostly clean but gutless. Wednesday the 2nd of September has a gentle offshore from the WSW at 9 mph with 1ft from the SSE at 17 seconds – surfable but very ordinary.
Honestly, there’s no standout here. The best on offer is Monday the 24th of August morning – glassy, clean, and that long-period groundswell gives a hint of shape, but you’ll need a log. If you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s your window. Otherwise, keep the board in the shed. Forecasts can change, but right now it’s a flat spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sun morning, calm by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Tue morning, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | NNE 5 | NE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 11 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | ESE 13 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | NE 6 | SSE 16 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 10 | 40 | 64 | 22 | 39 | 91 | 36 | 24 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 34 | 55 | 53 | 110 | 25 | 35 | 33 | 18 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 4:13AM2.11m | 4:35PM2.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:24AM0.54m | 10:51PM0.55m | ||||||||
7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
— | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 17 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 9 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | SSE 10 | E 14 | NE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | E 14 | N 4 | E 14 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
2 | 10 | 15 | 64 | 22 | 39 | 91 | 36 | 24 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 28 | 55 | 53 | 33 | 8 | 35 | 33 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | NE 8 | SE 10 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 17 | ESE 13 | E 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 16 | SSE 11 | E 5 | — | E 14 |
11 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 23 | 6 | 34 | 13 | 16 | 26 | 13 | 2 | — | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 15 | S 19 | SE 9 | — | — | NE 8 | E 8 | S 17 | S 16 | SE 9 | E 14 | — | — | — | E 10 | SSE 12 | SSE 16 | E 15 | E 15 | S 23 |
2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 15 | — | — | — | 2 | 14 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NW 4 | NW 4 | W 2 | NNW 3 | N 3 | N 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | — | ESE 3 | E 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | NE 6 | NNW 3 | N 3 | N 3 | NE 4 |
12 | 17 | 40 | 24 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 33 | 16 | — | 2 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 110 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 14 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 133 | 31 | 260 | 162 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 36 | 31 | 4 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 4 | 31 | 52 | 32 |
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.











