
Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NE swell with 490 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 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the lowdown on Taylors Mistake for the next couple of weeks. Let’s not sugarcoat it—this is a quiet period. Most days we’re dealing with small, weak swell and onshore wind making a mess of things. The wave energy is low for the majority of the forecast, so don’t get your hopes up for anything big.
Starting off Sunday the 9th, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the NE with a period of only 7 seconds. Wind is cross-onshore from the ENE at 9 mph, making for choppy conditions. The combined energy is only 78—weak. It’s a poor surf day, plain and simple.
Monday and Tuesday stay similar: small waves, poor quality. Monday afternoon does get a clean look with a cross-offshore wind from the SW at 12 mph, but the swell drops to just 1ft. Not worth the wetty.
Thursday the 13th morning is your first real chance. We get glassy conditions—wind from the ESE at just 3 mph, almost nothing. Swell is 3ft from the ENE with an 8-second period. It’s surfable but very ordinary, with energy at 88. For a beginner or anyone just wanting clean small waves, this is a decent window.
Friday the 14th is clean again, with a cross-offshore SW wind at 6 mph and 2ft swell from the E. Still weak (energy 56 and 93), but clean. Saturday the 15th sees wind pick up to 22 mph from the SW in the afternoon, making it choppy again.
The best stretch comes around Wednesday the 20th of August. That morning we’ve got glassy conditions with calm wind (0 mph from the ENE), and a tiny 1ft swell from the SSE with a long period of 12 seconds. Energy is still weak (59), but that glassy surface is pure gold. For a quiet, small-wave session, this is your pick.
Further out, Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th both show glassy or near-calm conditions. Swells are 1ft to 2ft from the east and southeast, with periods reaching 14 seconds. The energy finally climbs to 166 on Monday the 24th afternoon, which is the best we’ll see. For a longboard or a funboard, those days are the standout—clean, glassy, and with enough period to give a little push.
Overall, the biggest swell all period is just 4ft (on the 16th), but with poor conditions and cross-offshore wind. Nothing to get excited about. If you’re keen, go for the glassy mornings of Thursday 13th or the week starting Wednesday 20th. The pick of the bunch? Monday 24th afternoon—glassy, 2ft, 14-second period from the E, and the highest energy we get. Small but perfect for a quiet session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the NE by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
49 | 91 | 36 | 15 | 30 | 68 | 38 | 28 | 119 | 135 | 121 | 416 | 81 | 71 | 51 | 48 | 49 | 54 | 79 | 78 | 163 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:00PM2.42m | 1:29AM2.29m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:21PM0.45m | 7:36AM0.36m | 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 | ||||||||
7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 5 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 1 | -5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SSE 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 10 |
8 | 9 | 36 | 15 | 28 | 68 | 38 | 28 | 4 | 40 | 4 | 128 | 81 | 71 | 51 | 48 | 49 | 54 | 79 | 78 | 163 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | S 16 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | E 13 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 13 |
15 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 30 | 37 | 34 | 13 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | E 13 | E 12 | E 14 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | E 7 | S 18 | S 16 | S 21 | S 20 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 19 | S 16 | E 16 | ESE 14 | S 14 | E 11 | SE 11 | — |
6 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 16 | 2 | 4 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | ENE 7 | WSW 2 | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | S 8 |
49 | 91 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 119 | 135 | 121 | 416 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 103 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 31 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 32 | 175 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 264 | 181 |
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.











