Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, ENE swell with 753 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 13s period with ESE 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 10) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 16s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, lookin' at the charts for the Mistake. The first few days are pretty much a no-go, so don't rush. We got a dry spell, but things get interesting towards the end of the week.
From Monday the 10th through Wednesday the 12th, it's flat and weak. Tiny, messy waves, poor energy (41 to 226), and winds all over. Not worth the paddle.
Then Thursday the 13th morning is the real standout. Glassy conditions, a clean 7ft swell from the ENE. The combined energy is a solid 718, so there's some proper push. That's the session. Water temp is around 49°F, which is normal for this time of year. Afternoon gets smaller and cross-onshore, so get out early.
Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th are more of the same, with clean 3ft to 3ft waves from the E, light cross-off winds, and energy dropping. Rideable, but nothing special.
Sunday the 16th through Tuesday the 18th get windy again, with fresh breezes making things messy. Waves are small, 1ft to 3ft, and energy is low. Tuesday the 18th morning has a clean offshore breeze, but the swell is tiny at 2ft.
The second week is a mixed bag. From Wednesday the 19th to Saturday the 22nd, it's tiny and weak. A few glassy mornings with long-period groundswell (16 seconds) on the 19th and 21st, but the swell is only 1.0ft to 2ft. Energy is low (39-134).
There's a brief pulse of energy on Sunday the 23rd morning, with a 5ft, 6-second swell from the NE and energy of 203, but that short period means it'll be crumbly. It's clean, though.
The last couple of days, Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, are small again. Tuesday the 25th morning has a 5ft SSE swell with clean offshore winds, but again, short-period stuff.
Bottom line: Thursday the 13th morning is your winner. Glassy, 7ft swell, and plenty of energy. Get after it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 12 | ESE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 29 | 30 | 68 | 54 | 43 | 59 | 158 | 214 | 244 | 527 | 146 | 155 | 118 | 118 | 93 | 76 | 55 | 138 | 135 | 126 | 106 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:56PM2.47m | 2:26AM2.34m | 2:51PM2.51m | 3:21AM2.39m | 3:46PM2.53m | 4:13AM2.40m | 4:40PM2.52m | 5:06AM2.39m | 5:33PM2.48m | 6:01AM2.37m | 6:26PM2.43m | 6:59AM2.34m | 7:20PM2.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:15PM0.36m | 8:33AM0.29m | 9:09PM0.29m | 9:31AM0.23m | 10:03PM0.26m | 10:27AM0.18m | 10:59PM0.26m | 11:21AM0.17m | 11:53PM0.27m | 12:13PM0.22m | 00:46AM0.30m | 1:05PM0.31m | 1:36AM0.36m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | |  | |
 | 7:31 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — |
 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 4 | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | ENE 8 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 29 | 20 | 68 | 54 | 43 | 5 | 39 | 4 | 16 | 153 | 18 | 17 | 118 | 118 | 93 | 76 | 55 | 138 | 135 | 126 | 106 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | S 16 | SE 14 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | — | — | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | SSE 18 | ESE 13 | S 16 | S 19 | E 16 |
| kJ | 9 | 30 | 56 | 34 | 12 | 28 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 19 | — | — | 15 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 32 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | E 6 | S 18 | S 16 | S 21 | S 20 | S 18 | ESE 14 | S 17 | — | S 15 | S 15 | S 18 | S 21 | E 13 | S 17 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | S 18 |
| kJ | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 25 | 19 | 23 | — | 17 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 33 | 30 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SW 2 | — | — | — | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 2 | S 7 |
| kJ | 49 | 1 | — | — | — | 59 | 158 | 214 | 244 | 527 | 146 | 155 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 36 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 52 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 216 | 181 | 1 |
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.
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