Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSE swell with 337 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 11s period. 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 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) 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 1.1m 13s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at Taylors Mistake. It’s a pretty quiet stretch ahead, so don’t expect much action for a while.
We’ve got a long gap of flat, small, or messy conditions stretching from now through most of the first week. A few morning windows on Wednesday, the 5th of August, and Thursday, the 6th, offer small surf – around 2ft to 2ft from the southeast – but it’s nothing to get excited about. The water temp is about average for the time of year at 49°.
The real story is hidden way out in the second week. On Tuesday, the 18th of August, things finally wake up. The morning shows a solid 5ft swell from the east with a long 12-second period, and the combined energy hits 678 (moderate-strong energy). By the afternoon, that same 5ft east swell is holding with 679 energy, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the southwest. This is the standout session of the whole outlook – the waves will have proper shape and power, and the conditions are set to be very good. This is what you wait for.
Wednesday, the 19th, is still good with 4ft to 4ft east swell and clean cross-off wind, but the energy drops to 480-377. Still well worth a paddle, but Tuesday afternoon is the best on offer.
Keep in mind, Taylors Mistake can get crowded sometimes, so get in early for that Tuesday arvo.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Mild temperatures (max 6°C on Tue afternoon, min 2°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue morning, calm by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun morning, min 5°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 13 | E 13 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 5 | SE 7 | E 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3 | 3 | 217 | 191 | 187 | 122 | 104 | 104 | 97 | 99 | 65 | 68 | 28 | 15 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 73 | 144 | 55 | 86 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | on |
High Tide | 8:52PM2.18m | 9:19AM2.19m | 9:46PM2.19m | 10:10AM2.24m | 10:40PM2.20m | 11:05AM2.30m | 11:35PM2.22m | 12:02PM2.36m | 00:31AM2.25m | 1:00PM2.42m | 1:29AM2.29m | 1:56PM2.47m | 2:26AM2.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:30PM0.54m | 3:03AM0.54m | 3:22PM0.58m | 3:56AM0.55m | 4:21PM0.60m | 4:52AM0.53m | 5:22PM0.59m | 5:48AM0.48m | 6:24PM0.53m | 6:42AM0.42m | 7:21PM0.45m | 7:36AM0.36m | 8:15PM0.36m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Feels °C | -4 | -2 | -2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 13 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 7 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 217 | 191 | 187 | 122 | 104 | 104 | 97 | 99 | 65 | 68 | 28 | 15 | 25 | 15 | 4 | 15 | 47 | 55 | 86 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 16 | — | ESE 14 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 14 | NE 3 | ENE 4 | SE 10 | ESE 11 | SE 12 | SE 13 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | E 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | — | 19 | 26 | 43 | 69 | 60 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 6 | 27 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 12 | E 16 | E 18 | E 11 | ESE 15 | S 14 | SE 18 | S 9 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | ENE 7 | NE 5 | NE 4 | ESE 5 | SE 12 | E 12 | E 13 | NE 7 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 85 | 14 | 12 | 102 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | SE 7 | — | — |
| kJ | 350 | 314 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 73 | 144 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 181 | 181 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 31 |
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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