Surf Forecasts:
Taylors Mistake surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, ESE swell with 82 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period with ESE 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 (Sep 18) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. 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 0.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) 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 1.4m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
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—this isn’t a week to get excited about around Taylors Mistake. The whole sixteen-day window is pretty quiet, with only tiny bumps and a lot of ordinary conditions. There’s a big gap of almost no worthwhile surf right from the start, with most days offering nothing but poor surf. From September 14th right through to the 17th, it’s all zero-rated. The swell energy stays feeble, hanging around the 35 to 53 mark. Short period, small stuff. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
Friday September 18th is the first time you’d even bother paddling out. The morning brings a tiny 1ft swell from the ESE with a 13-second period—long enough to give a bit of shape, but the combined energy is only 67, so it’s weak. The wind goes glassy though, and that’s a rare highlight. Clean, glassy waves at a beginner-friendly spot. The afternoon holds similar: 2ft from the E, 12 seconds, glassy again, energy at 86. It’s not going to blow you away, but it’s the best on offer. Saturday the 19th keeps that trend with 2ft from the E, 12 seconds, glassy in the morning (energy 78) and a gentle offshore in the arvo. That Saturday arvo is the one true standout in this whole run—clean, gentle offshore, a bit of shape, and the break’s fairly consistent. You’ll have clean little runners for a longboard or a foamie, but keep an eye out for crowds—it can get busy sometimes.
After that, it drops right back into small, choppy, or onshore junk for days. The 20th has a bump in energy to 173 in the arvo, but 2ft from the ESE with cross-onshore wind—choppy and messy. Not worth it. Rest of the week is a write-off, with only a couple of glassy moments on the 28th and 29th, but the swell’s barely there. The 29th of September morning brings 1ft from the ESE, 13 seconds, glassy, and a score that says surfable but ordinary. That’s the last tiny glimmer in the window.
Bottom line: if you’re around Taylors Mistake, your best shots are the glassy days on the 18th and 19th of September. After that, it’s a long stretch of flat or poor conditions. That’s just how it goes sometimes—forecasts can change, but right now it’s slim pickings.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 5°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 13 | ENE 6 | NE 5 | E 10 | E 13 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 13 | E 12 | ESE 11 | E 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 19 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 28 | 21 | 58 | 75 | 73 | 72 | 41 | 45 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:33AM2.32m | 6:53PM2.28m | 7:26AM2.33m | 7:46PM2.23m | 8:15AM2.32m | 8:38PM2.18m | 9:01AM2.28m | 9:27PM2.14m | 9:45AM2.23m | 10:14PM2.10m | 10:30AM2.17m | 10:58PM2.06m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:17AM0.40m | 12:41PM0.45m | 1:05AM0.46m | 1:32PM0.55m | 1:52AM0.55m | 2:23PM0.64m | 2:39AM0.65m | 3:13PM0.71m | 3:27AM0.73m | 4:02PM0.76m | 4:15AM0.79m | 4:51PM0.79m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 9 |
Feels °C | 6 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | ENE 6 | NE 5 | E 10 | ENE 6 | E 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 6 | ESE 13 | E 12 | ESE 11 | E 12 | SE 5 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 19 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 21 | 21 | 58 | 75 | 73 | 72 | 13 | 45 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | — | E 12 | NE 3 | ENE 4 | E 11 | SE 8 | SE 10 | E 7 | NE 9 | ENE 6 | NE 5 | E 12 | ESE 5 | E 6 | E 8 | SE 4 | ESE 11 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 15 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 30 | 2 | 41 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | E 12 | S 16 | E 12 | E 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | E 13 | E 8 | E 13 | NE 8 | NNE 5 | ESE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | SSE 7 | S 17 | S 16 |
| kJ | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 3 | — | NE 3 | — | ENE 13 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | N 4 | — | SE 6 | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | S 8 | NE 2 |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 17 | 3 | 6 | 12 | — | 24 | 28 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 216 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 22 | 32 | 22 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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