Taylors Mistake Surf Break

Lat Long: 43.58° S 172.78° E

Taylors Mistake Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 08 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Taylors Mistake sea temperature is
11.3°C
2.0° 

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 8 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 19s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 19s period, SSE swell with 319 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 9PM (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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 4s. 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 0.7m 19s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 9s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Wed 9th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 8s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 12th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 19s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sat 12th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 19s

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


The Lowdown

Aye, what's happenin'? Rusty here. Right, let's be straight with you—this outlook for Taylors Mistake is a bit of a tough one. The next 16 days are looking pretty flat and unexciting, with no real standout sessions to get fired up about. We're looking at a long stretch of small, weak surf, so don't go getting your hopes up for any barrels.

The water is sitting at 52°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won't be freezing your toes off if you do decide to go for a paddle.

Let's kick off on Tuesday, the 8th of September. Morning is glassy with a tiny 3ft NE windswell, but the period is a short 4 seconds and the combined energy is a weak 40. It's just not doing anything. That afternoon, it drops even further to 2ft. The whole of Wednesday, the 9th, is a write-off with cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions.

Thursday the 10th is the first time we see anything surfable, but it's still very ordinary. The morning has a 2ft ENE swell with an 8-second period, and a light cross-offshore wind from the SW. The energy is still weak at 56. It's clean, but tiny. That afternoon is even smaller.

The rest of the first week and into the second week is a real grind. Friday the 11th has a 0.7ft SSE groundswell with an 18-second period, but the energy is only 40. The morning is crossed-up, but the afternoon goes glassy with a 2ft N windswell that has a pathetic 3-second period and energy of just 8. Saturday the 12th morning offers a glimmer with a 2ft SSE groundswell at 16 seconds and a glassy morning, giving a moderate energy of 157. But it's still only surfable in a very ordinary way. The afternoon gets ruined by a 30 km/h cross-onshore wind.

Sunday the 13th is clean and glassy in the morning with a 1ft SSE groundswell (99 energy), but it's nothing to write home about. The rest of that week and into the next is all small, poor surf with cross-offshore winds keeping things clean but the swell is just too weak. We see a bit of ENE windswell on Saturday the 19th afternoon with 4ft, but it's a 4-second period and cross-on. Not worth it.

The only real, and I mean *only*, potential session is maybe the morning of Thursday the 17th, with a 0.7ft E groundswell at 14 seconds and a clean offshore wind from the W. But it's tiny. Or the morning of Saturday the 19th, with a 0.7ft ESE groundswell (12 seconds) and clean offshore wind from the WSW. Again, tiny.

Honestly, this is a blank run of surf. Taylors Mistake is a beginner-friendly spot, but there's just no swell to work with. With such small, weak surf and occasionally clean conditions, it might look more interesting for a kite session than a paddle session on some of the windier days, but for a surfer? It's a hard pass. The forecasts can change, but for now, save your energy.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Wed afternoon, min 3°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri afternoon, min 5°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun morning).

Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
AM
PM
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
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
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)
0.9
NE
4
0.5
ENE
4
0.3
ENE
8
0.8
ENE
9
1.1
ENE
9
0.8
ENE
8
0.6
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.3
E
8
0.2
SSE
18
0.5
N
3
0.1
E
14
0.5
SSE
16
0.7
SSE
19
0.5
SSE
18
0.4
SSE
16
0.3
SSE
15
0.3
SSE
13
0.4
SE
10
0.5
SE
13
0.4
SE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
27
10
14
90
176
92
51
21
10
33
5
4
138
309
176
94
47
34
23
78
29
Wind (km/h)
5
NNE
10
E
10
NE
15
NE
20
ENE
5
WNW
15
SSW
15
WSW
10
W
10
N
5
SE
5
SE
5
E
30
NE
5
WSW
0
NW
10
E
10
WSW
5
N
20
ENE
5
WNW
Wind State
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
off
glassy
on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
1:38PM2.39m
2:05AM2.30m
2:31PM2.40m
2:57AM2.31m
3:23PM2.40m
3:48AM2.32m
4:15PM2.39m
4:41AM2.32m
5:07PM2.36m
5:37AM2.32m
6:00PM2.33m
6:33AM2.32m
6:53PM2.28m
Low Tide
7:54PM0.36m
8:14AM0.31m
8:45PM0.33m
9:10AM0.29m
9:38PM0.33m
10:05AM0.28m
10:32PM0.34m
10:58AM0.30m
11:26PM0.36m
11:50AM0.36m
00:17AM0.40m
12:41PM0.45m
1:05AM0.46m
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:41
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:35
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:08
6:09
6:10
6:12
6:13
6:15
6:15
 mm
5
2
1
4
Temp °C
9
9
9
9
10
9
8
7
5
8
12
8
9
10
9
10
10
9
9
9
9
Feels °C
6
6
6
5
5
8
5
2
1
4
9
5
5
3
5
7
7
7
6
4
7
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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