Trolley's surfForecast / Canterbury / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Monday 12 Jan 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Trolley's surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Trolley's sea temperature is
19.1° C
(Which is 4.7°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Trolley's this week:

The surf forecast for Trolley's over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jan 13) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Trolley's in the next 12 days are 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jan 17) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 10s period and expected on Tuesday (Jan 13) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 13th Jan)3ft (0.9m) 5s
Best Surf 1AM (Sat 17th Jan)7ft (2.2m) 8s
Most Powerful 1AM (Sat 17th Jan)7ft (2.2m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Trolley's over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 60mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Thu afternoon, calm by Sat night).

Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
!
2
1
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.5
SSE
0.5
SE
0.3
SSE
0.4
SE
0.6
E
0.3
SE
0.4
ENE
0.8
SSE
0.7
ENE
0.8
ENE
0.9
E
1.2
E
1.5
E
1.4
ESE
2.2
SE
2.1
SE
1.9
SE
0.8
ESE
0.8
ESE
0.9
ESE
0.7
E
Period(s) (?)121112111010798546788887788
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)8164292971152110351263310922921054450338273718160
Wind
(km/h)
10
SSE
15
NNE
25
NE
5
E
20
E
15
SW
10
SW
20
E
15
E
20
E
30
E
15
E
30
E
30
ESE
15
SE
5
W
10
ENE
5
WSW
10
SW
5
SSE
5
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
ononglasscross-
on
offoffcross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
crosscrossglasscross-
on
glassoffcross-
off
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
1:01PM
1.70
1:34AM
1.73
1:51PM
1.67
2:22AM
1.74
2:39PM
1.66
3:07AM
1.77
3:24PM
1.67
3:51AM
1.80
4:07PM
1.69
4:34AM
1.84
4:49PM
1.71
5:15AM
1.87
5:31PM
1.72
Low Tide
/ height (m)
7:07PM
0.38
7:35AM
0.47
7:53PM
0.41
8:24AM
0.49
8:39PM
0.42
9:11AM
0.48
9:24PM
0.41
9:58AM
0.47
10:08PM
0.39
10:43AM
0.44
10:53PM
0.35
11:27AM
0.40
11:37PM
0.32
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Sunrise6:01--6:03--6:03--6:05--6:07--6:07--6:09--
Sunset-9:10--9:09--9:09--9:08--9:08--9:07--9:07-
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
mod rain
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
light rain
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
Rain (mm)
--------26426184-11-11-
Temp. °C131413161716171716151514141414151515151613
Feels °C (?)1010814131414131312101210910141315131411
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Trolley's surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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Information about the Trolley's Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Trolley's provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Trolley's can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Trolley's 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 (Trolley's) 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 Trolley's 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 Trolley's, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Canterbury, consider staying in Christchurch which is 7 km (4 miles) away.

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