Christchurch
Hourly
Confidence
Compare
⏱️s.
⚡️kJ
Saturday 08
Sunday 09
Monday 10
Tuesday 11
Wednesday 12
Thursday 13
Tap a forecast cell to explore conditions on the map.
Timezone: Pacific/Auckland
Wind: GFS (20251107 18z)
Waves: GFS WAVE (20251107 18z)

Christchurch surf guide

Christchurch is a surf spot located on the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island, featuring a mix of beach breaks that cater to different skill levels. You’ll find several beaches like Spencerville, Waimairi, and New Brighton, each offering a unique vibe. On a good day, the crowd can get pretty packed, but there's usually room for everyone out on the waves. The area can be bowl-like and quite scenic with the views of Banks Peninsula.

The beaches here work best with a NorthEast swell, but you can also catch waves coming from the SouthEast. The surfable waves typically handle sizes around 2ft (about 0.6 meters), and there are both left and right breaks to choose from. Mid to high tide is generally preferred, but low tide can produce some fun waves too, especially if the conditions are right. The sand bottom means you don’t have to worry too much about rocky hazards, making it a decent spot for beginners, although keep an eye on the dumpy shore break when the swells pick up.

For best results, you’ll want a west wind, which helps clean up the waves. While both North Ramp and South Ramp are popular spots, they can get crowded quickly. Just be mindful of the fishing lines cast from the nearby pier while you’re paddling out. Overall, if you're a beginner or looking for a laid-back surf session, Christchurch can be an okay option as long as you manage your expectations.

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Christchurch

Raupo Bay
Canterbury, New Zealand
Beach break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Pegasus Bay
Canterbury, New Zealand
Beach break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Christchurch
Canterbury, New Zealand
Unknown break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Taylors Mistake
Canterbury, New Zealand
Beach break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Sumner Bar
Canterbury, New Zealand
Rivermouth break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Confidence

Confidence tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

  • High confidence: Models agree closely; forecast is reliable.
  • Medium confidence: Some disagreement; conditions may shift slightly.
  • Low confidence: Models diverge; treat forecast with caution.

We calculate the wind confidence by comparing wind speed, gust and direction from multiple models (like GFS, ECMWF, Arome, and Harmonie) and seeing how closely they match. For wave certainty we compare height, period and direction, also on multiple models. They are weighted, meaning that some models count more than others, depending on how good they are for a certain spot.

Readme

Welcome! If you’re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Table

The forecast table (the section on the page with all the numbers) is designed to pack as much information in the screen as possible. Although intimidating at first, it will help you make informed decisions about the waves faster, trust me :D. The table consists of roughly four sections, time and predictions, wind, waves, and tides:

🔮 Time and predictions section

Here we show the forecast thour and the overall surf quality prediction. This is determined based on the wave, wind and tide quality prediction. These individual predictions can be found on the forecast map.

💨 Wind section

The first row on the table (with the 💨 icon) shows wind speed, direction and gust. The more the wind speed the more aggressive the color (from blue, green, orange to red).

🌊 Wave section

The waves section consists of three rows, one for wave height and direction, one for period and one for wave energy. Our algorithm choices the "dominant wave". This is normally the first swell partition, but with heavy local storms it displays the wind waves. If that's the case, we display the numbers in italic and in gray.

🌒 Tide section

The tide section consists of a row with the actual heights per hour (measured at the half hour) and a table that displays the flow of the tide and the extremes (lows and highs).

Forecast map

The forecast map consists of arrows. These arrows represent all wave partitions (swell partitions and wind wave partition) and the wind. This allows you to see things like: a secondary swell or wind waves messes up the surf, or the wind is just a tick offshore so very surfable. Click a metric label in the bottom left to bring that arrow to the front — handy when arrows overlap.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. It’s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Here’s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm — the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

With Surfnerd, no more "you should have been here yesterday"

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