Taylors Mistake Surf Break

Lat Long: 43.58° S 172.78° E

Taylors Mistake Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 27 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Taylors Mistake sea temperature is
10.0°C
0.9° 

Taylors Mistake surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, ENE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, ENE swell with 336 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. 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 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 10s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Fri 28th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 8s
Best Surf 9PM (Fri 28th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 8s
Most Powerful 6AM (Fri 28th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Taylors Mistake over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this outlook for Taylors Mistake is about as flat as a Monday morning. We’ve got a long, drawn-out run of tiny, weak surf stretching right across the 16-day window. There’s no standout session, no real pulse, just a lot of nothing. The first real chance to even think about getting wet doesn’t show up until Monday the 31st of August, and even then, it’s barely a whisper.

The pattern is clear: we start with a bit of leftover energy on Friday the 28th of August, but that’s all chop and cross-on wind from the NNE at 12 mph. The swell is 5ft but with a short, weak 8-second period, and the combined energy is only 355 – moderate at best. It’s poor surf and not worth a paddle. Friday afternoon cleans up with a NW breeze, but the swell drops to 3ft and the energy falls to 152. Still, not good.

Saturday the 29th is tiny – 1ft on the morning with a west offshore wind, but the energy is a pathetic 51. Sunday the 30th is worse, barely a ripple at 0.3ft. This stretch from Friday the 28th through to Sunday the 30th is a total write-off.

Monday the 31st of August is where we finally get a "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" note. The morning has 1ft from the SSE with a 13-second period, combined energy of 63. Winds are light from the NNW. It’s clean but tiny. Tuesday the 1st of September sees a slight bump in energy to 117, with a 2ft swell from the SSE and an 11-second period. The afternoon goes glassy, which is a nice touch, but the wave height is still miniscule. This is the best we get, and it’s marginal at best.

After that, it’s a long, slow fade. From Wednesday the 2nd of September right through to Saturday the 12th of September, we’re looking at days and days of 0.3ft to 1ft swells, most with combined energy under 100. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday the 9th of September with a 0.7ft swell rocking a 17-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell, but it’s so small it’s basically unrideable. The energy is only 56.

There’s no single day that stands out. The water temperature anomaly isn’t provided, so we can’t comment on that. Taylors Mistake itself is a fairly consistent, fairly exposed spot that’s best with an ENE swell, which we do see on the first day, but the quality just isn’t there. For beginners, the tiny waves might be okay on the glassy days, but there’s nothing with any push. Honestly, with the swell this small and the setup being a beach, you’d be better off with a kite than a paddle on any day with cross-off breeze. We’re in a dry spell, mate. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, keep the board in the car.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the SW by Sun afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 4°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun night, calm by Mon morning).

Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
ENE
7
1.6
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
0.7
NE
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
SE
13
0.4
ENE
8
0.2
ENE
7
0.2
ENE
7
0.4
SSE
17
0.4
SSE
13
0.4
SSE
13
0.1
NE
10
0.7
SSE
11
0.6
SSE
12
0.5
SE
11
0.4
SE
12
0.4
SE
11
0.2
SSE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
117
318
128
65
24
44
22
6
6
95
62
68
4
115
90
58
34
33
17
Wind (km/h)
15
NE
20
NNE
20
NW
10
W
10
W
10
NE
5
WNW
10
W
15
SSW
20
SW
5
NNW
10
NNW
25
SW
20
WSW
5
SSW
10
NNE
5
WNW
15
WNW
5
N
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
off
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
off
off
glassy
High Tide
4:13AM2.11m
4:35PM2.22m
4:55AM2.13m
5:15PM2.25m
5:40AM2.16m
5:58PM2.26m
6:27AM2.20m
6:45PM2.26m
7:16AM2.24m
7:37PM2.25m
8:07AM2.29m
8:33PM2.24m
Low Tide
10:07PM0.61m
10:24AM0.54m
10:51PM0.55m
11:06AM0.50m
11:34PM0.51m
11:48AM0.47m
00:17AM0.49m
12:32PM0.47m
1:01AM0.48m
1:19PM0.49m
1:48AM0.50m
2:11PM0.53m
2:39AM0.51m
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:01
7:00
6:58
6:56
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
 mm
1
4
Temp °C
13
15
17
11
13
13
10
16
14
9
9
13
9
9
9
8
14
16
11
Feels °C
7
10
12
8
10
10
9
9
10
-2
7
8
4
3
6
3
10
11
8
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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