
Surf Forecasts:
Lake Ferry surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, S swell with 1,235 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lake Ferry this week:
The surf forecast for Lake Ferry over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lake Ferry in the next 16 days are 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lake Ferry over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surf’s up… or it’s gonna be, eventually. Let’s get into it.
First up, the water’s sitting at 52°F, which is a touch cooler than normal for this time of year. Not crazy, but you’ll feel it. Full wetsuit, hood, boots, the works.
Right now, we’re looking at a lull. The next few days are pretty slim pickings. Wednesday afternoon kicks things off with an 12ft southerly swell, but it’s got too much juice for Lake Ferry. That’s a miss. Thursday and Friday morning are more of the same story – waves are there, but the conditions are marginal. The wind is just messy enough to keep things from being clean.
Then, Friday morning (August 7th) is where it starts to get interesting. We’ve got a 6ft south swell with a 15-second period, and the wind is offshore. That’s the combo we’re after. It won’t be perfect, but it’s the first real window. There’s a moderate amount of energy, and for a spot like Lake Ferry, this is about as good as it gets. The swell direction is right, and that offshore wind will make it worth the paddle out.
After that, things fade out again. The weekend is pretty flat and messy, and the start of next week is looking weak. There’s a couple of days there with almost nothing on offer. Don’t get too excited about the 14th or 15th – it’s small and the wind is onshore, making it a bit of a mess. The 15th and 16th have some size, but it’s all windblown and poor.
Now, here’s the standout. Further out, on Tuesday the 18th, the swell is back with a vengeance. We’re looking at an 12ft southerly swell with a 13-second period. That’s a lot of water, and honestly, it’s too big for this break. It’s only for the experts, and even then, it’s a handful. The energy is strong, and the swell is right, but this spot is going to be a washing machine. It’s a no-go for most of us.
The real gem is the morning after, on Wednesday the 19th. The swell drops to a more manageable 7ft from the south, still with good period, and the wind is offshore and light. That’s the one. Early morning, glassy conditions, clean lines. That’s the day you want to be out there. It’s still a beefy wave, but it’s the best of the whole run.
So, in a nutshell: the next week is mostly about waiting. Friday morning is a small window, but the big one to circle on the calendar is Wednesday the 19th. It’s a long way off, so don’t book the day off yet, but it’s looking promising.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri night, min 5°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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) | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
3093 | 1512 | 810 | 443 | 332 | 1212 | 1144 | 726 | 544 | 379 | 239 | 158 | 90 | 68 | 92 | 134 | 57 | 66 | 79 | 95 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 10:07PM1.18m | 10:34AM1.22m | 10:58PM1.19m | 11:26AM1.27m | 11:51PM1.21m | 12:20PM1.33m | 00:45AM1.23m | 1:16PM1.38m | 1:40AM1.25m | 2:12PM1.42m | 2:36AM1.27m | 3:08PM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:23AM0.15m | 4:51PM0.15m | 5:11AM0.13m | 5:45PM0.12m | 6:01AM0.10m | 6:40PM0.10m | 6:54AM0.06m | 7:36PM0.07m | 7:49AM0.03m | 8:33PM0.05m | 8:46AM0.00m | 9:31PM0.04m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 10 |
Feels °C | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 18 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 |
12 | 1512 | 810 | 443 | 332 | 1212 | 1144 | 726 | 544 | 379 | 239 | 158 | 90 | 68 | 92 | 134 | 57 | 65 | 79 | 95 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 11 | SSE 12 | S 10 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | S 19 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 6 | SE 12 | S 7 | SW 12 |
— | 41 | 35 | 110 | 243 | 266 | 38 | 19 | 6 | 44 | 7 | 61 | 31 | 5 | 24 | 21 | 16 | 66 | 34 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 16 | SE 15 | SSE 15 | S 18 | SE 12 | — | — | SE 12 | S 16 | — | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | NW 11 | SE 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 18 |
— | 93 | 80 | 21 | 157 | 54 | — | — | 67 | 5 | — | 25 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 18 | 17 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | WNW 4 | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | — | SSE 2 | — | — | ENE 2 | NE 2 |
3093 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 113 | 83 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 19 | 102 | 68 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 252 | 91 | 27 | 23 | 9 | 9 | 31 | 31 | 25 | 9 | 9 | 27 | 9 | 9 | 64 | 64 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lake Ferry Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lake Ferry provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lake Ferry can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lake Ferry 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 (Lake Ferry) 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 Lake Ferry 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.
Lake Ferry is 28 km (17 miles) from Lower Hutt. If you plan a holiday in The Wairarapa, look for hotels and other accommodation in Lower Hutt. Lower Hutt has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











