Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, NE swell with 857 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. 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 2.5m 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 1.8m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at this forecast for Taylors Mistake. I gotta be straight with you – it ain’t gonna be a classic stretch by any means. There’s a long dry spell to start, so don't be in a rush.
We’re looking at a real gap here. The next several days are pretty grim. From Tuesday the 11th through to Saturday the 22nd of August, there’s barely anything worth paddling out for. Day after day of small, weak, or messy conditions. It’s a proper run of flat to poor surf, so don’t get your hopes up until the very end of the window.
The first sign of life shows up later in the period. On Sunday the 23rd of August, we finally see a pulse. The morning at Taylors Mistake is looking like the only real standout in the whole 16-day window. We’ve got a clean 3ft swell coming from the SE, with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy reads a solid 334 (moderate energy). The real kicker is the glassy conditions, with winds swinging WSW at just 3 mph – that’ll have the waves looking clean and tidy. This sort of long-period swell can be a bit straight at a beach break, but Taylors can handle it. It’s small enough for beginners, too. Just keep in mind that it’s *sometimes* crowded here, so expect a few locals out enjoying the same rarity.
The afternoon of the 23rd gets a bit lumpier as the wind turns cross-onshore, so the morning is definitely the move.
After that, it fades again quickly into Monday and Tuesday with weaker, poorer surf. So really, you’ve got one clear window: the morning of Sunday the 23rd. Mark it on the calendar.
There’s not much else to get excited about. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
Stay patient. It’ll turn.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the NE by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu night, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | E 8 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 68 | 70 | 42 | 91 | 149 | 220 | 250 | 506 | 113 | 94 | 70 | 54 | 37 | 34 | 22 | 24 | 117 | 71 | 81 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 8:33AM0.29m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  | |  | |
 | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Feels °C | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 |
| kJ | 68 | 70 | 42 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 172 | 113 | 94 | 70 | 54 | 37 | 34 | 22 | 24 | 49 | 71 | 81 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 20 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | E 13 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 6 | S 15 | S 15 |
| kJ | 56 | 28 | 13 | 42 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 286 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | S 20 | NE 6 | S 16 | S 21 | S 15 | S 18 | ESE 14 | — | — | SE 13 | ESE 14 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | E 11 | S 18 | ESE 8 | E 16 |
| kJ | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 25 | 19 | — | — | 45 | 40 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | S 4 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 17 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 91 | 149 | 220 | 250 | 506 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 3 | 22 | 117 | 53 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 22 | 32 | 32 | 52 | 181 | 32 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 4 | 4 | 133 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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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