
Surf Forecasts:
Lake Ferry surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, S swell with 465 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 19s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lake Ferry in the next 16 days are 1.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lake Ferry over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks at Lake Ferry are a real mixed bag, a proper test of patience. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, then a window of decent, clean surf, followed by a wall of chocolate-brown, out-of-control swell that’s only for the brave. And there’s a big flat spell in the middle there too, so don’t go getting your hopes up for a daily dawn patrol.
The first few days are pretty marginal. Saturday the 8th kicks off with a 5ft south swell, but the cross-off breeze keeps it a bit messy. The water’s sitting at 52°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – throw an extra layer on. Sunday the 9th drops off quickly, and by Monday the 10th it’s pretty much gone, with a short-period, onshore slop. Not worth the drive.
We get a little blip of hope on Tuesday the 11th. The morning is small, but the afternoon turns glassy with a 3ft south-southeast swell. It’s tiny, but it’s clean. That’s about it for that pulse, because Wednesday through Friday is a proper flat spell – a few days of nothing worth paddling out for. Patience, mate.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday the 16th sees a long-period groundswell roll in, with a 2ft south-southwest swell at 19 seconds. The morning is clean with a light offshore breeze, and the energy is moderate (363). It’s small, but the quality is there. Then, Sunday the 17th is the standout. The morning brings an 8ft south-southwest swell with a period of 8 seconds, and the afternoon cleans up to glassy with 7ft of the same. The combined energy is strong (905 and 1123). This is proper, powerful surf. The period is short, so it won’t be walled-up and perfect, but there’ll be plenty of push. This is one for experienced surfers only – 8ft is well over the beginner mark. The swell direction is right on the money for this spot.
Hold on, though, because Monday the 18th turns to shit in a hurry. The wind swings onshore and the surf gets messy. Then Tuesday the 19th is a monster. The forecast is for an 18ft south-southwest swell with huge energy (7120 and 8603). That is way, way too big for this break. It’ll be a washing machine – definitely not a paddle-surf day. You’d need a jet ski and a death wish. The wind is light, but the size is just insane. This continues into Wednesday the 20th with an 12ft swell, still too big and with onshore winds.
After that chaos, it settles down. Thursday the 21st is a gem – glassy conditions with a 7ft south swell. It’s still solid, but much more manageable. Friday the 22nd is also good, with a clean 5ft south-southeast swell in the morning and a slightly smaller 5ft in the afternoon. These two days are your best bets for a proper, fun session without getting pounded into the sand. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might get a few others out, but it shouldn’t be a zoo.
The final couple of days, Saturday the 23rd and Sunday the 24th, taper off back to small, ordinary conditions. A bit of a letdown after the mid-week chaos, but that’s the ocean for you.
So, to wrap it up: don’t bother with the first week. The standout is definitely Sunday the 17th for the size and power, but only if you’re a solid surfer. For the rest of us, the Thursday the 21st and Friday the 22nd window is the one to circle. It’s promising, but remember this is a long-range call, so don’t book the time off just yet.
Stay salty.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sun morning, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 13 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 6 | S 8 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
482 | 387 | 242 | 158 | 116 | 100 | 98 | 197 | 258 | 119 | 198 | 42 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 21 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | on | off | glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 12:20PM1.33m | 00:45AM1.23m | 1:16PM1.38m | 1:40AM1.25m | 2:12PM1.42m | 2:36AM1.27m | 3:08PM1.45m | 3:32AM1.28m | 4:05PM1.45m | 4:29AM1.28m | 5:01PM1.44m | 5:26AM1.28m | 5:57PM1.41m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:40PM0.10m | 6:54AM0.06m | 7:36PM0.07m | 7:49AM0.03m | 8:33PM0.05m | 8:46AM0.00m | 9:31PM0.04m | 9:44AM-0.02m | 10:28PM0.03m | 10:42AM-0.03m | 11:26PM0.02m | 11:41AM-0.02m | 00:22AM0.03m | ||||||||
7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | |
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 11 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 12 | SSW 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | ESE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
482 | 387 | 242 | 158 | 94 | 100 | 98 | 64 | 71 | 37 | 198 | 42 | 12 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 5 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 21 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | S 16 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | NW 4 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSE 12 | SSW 13 | SE 9 | SSE 10 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SSE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
6 | 5 | 20 | 127 | 116 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 21 | 119 | 17 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 16 | SSW 18 | SW 15 | S 12 | S 13 | SSW 15 | SSE 14 | NW 8 | SSW 8 | S 20 | SW 12 | S 11 | S 15 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 14 | ESE 10 |
— | 5 | 31 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 8 | — | — | NE 2 | NNW 3 | NW 4 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | ENE 6 | N 3 | NNW 3 | NW 4 | — |
84 | 34 | 10 | 71 | 115 | 68 | 22 | 197 | 258 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 90 | 5 | 4 | 6 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 27 | 27 | 9 | 27 | 34 | 82 | 31 | 42 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 31 | 34 |
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.











