Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period, SSE swell with 582 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with ENE 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Taylors Mistake in the next 16 days are 1.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 13s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks at Taylors Mistake are mostly a waiting game. The surf ain't gonna be anything special for a while, with a whole lot of small, weak waves and not much push. We’ve got a long stretch of days with nothing worth paddling out for, so don't get your hopes up for the next week or so.
The first time we see anything even worth a look is Thursday the 13th of August. The morning has a bit more size, around 7ft, but the wind is a light cross-onshore from the NE, and it’s only marginal. The afternoon drops right off to about 3ft, but it goes glassy, and the water temp is sitting near normal at 49°F, so it’s not a total write-off, just very ordinary conditions.
Friday the 14th through to the middle of next week is mostly small and weak, with wave heights under 3ft. There’s some clean, glassy moments, like Friday afternoon with around 2ft, but the energy is weak, with combined energy readings in the 40s to 90s – that’s just not enough to get excited about. You’ll be doing more bobbing than surfing.
Now, the one true standout in this whole outlook is the morning of Tuesday the 25th of August. That’s eight days away, so we’re in long-range territory, but this is the one to circle on the calendar. The swell bumps up to around 4ft from the NE, with a 9-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 287 – that’s the most punch we’ve seen in the whole period. The wind is a light cross-off from the NW, which should keep things clean. That’s the best bet on offer, and it’s a proper, if modest, surfable day. It’s still a beginner-friendly size, so a good day for everyone to get some waves.
Don't bother with the afternoon of that day (Tuesday 25th), as the wind swings around and blows 20 km/h from the NNE, turning it messy and choppy. The days before and after just fade away back into the doldrums, with tiny swell and fresh winds from the southwest.
So, to sum it up: it’s a lean couple of weeks. The standout is Tuesday the 25th of August, but even that’s a promise, not a guarantee. For the rest of it, you might be better off checking the tide pools. This is one of those stretches where patience is key.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon afternoon, min 4°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 9 | SE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SSE 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 277 | 256 | 502 | 105 | 73 | 54 | 55 | 39 | 41 | 42 | 33 | 25 | 19 | 33 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 16 | 18 | 326 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 7:55AM2.33m | 8:16PM2.30m | 8:47AM2.32m | 9:10PM2.24m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:58PM0.43m | 2:26AM0.44m | 2:52PM0.56m | ||||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — |
 | 5:38 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
Feels °C | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | E 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | SE 4 | E 10 | SSE 16 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 167 | 105 | 73 | 54 | 55 | 39 | 41 | 42 | 33 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 2 | 18 | 326 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | SE 9 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 14 | E 9 | E 14 | E 10 |
| kJ | 8 | 3 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 3 | 13 | 25 | 15 | 26 | 10 | 4 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 18 | SSE 8 | — | — | E 16 | ESE 14 | S 18 | S 17 | S 17 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | SSE 18 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | S 13 | E 13 | ESE 13 | E 13 |
| kJ | 4 | 25 | 7 | — | — | 5 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 14 | 16 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | — | SW 2 | S 3 | S 3 | SW 2 | S 18 | — | — | — | — | S 3 | S 17 | — |
| kJ | 277 | 256 | 502 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 103 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 617 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 181 | 32 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
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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