
Surf Forecasts:
Lake Ferry surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with 4,475 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) 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 2.2m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lake Ferry over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it.
Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: the start of this outlook is pretty grim. Lake Ferry has almost nothing for the first week. There’s a real gap in decent surf here. Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are a write-off – small, messy, with poor conditions. You won’t be paddling out with any confidence. We’re looking at a dry spell right through until the end of the first week.
Things start to look a little more promising towards the end of the week. On Friday the 11th, we get a bump of swell, with 7ft from the SSW and a short period of 7 seconds – not the cleanest, but there’s some energy in the water (combined energy of 689). The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect but it’s a step up. Saturday the 12th builds on that, with 7ft from the SSW in the morning, but then it gets ugly. By Saturday afternoon, the swell jumps to 12ft and the wind swings onshore, making for a choppy mess.
Now, the standout. Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th are your ticket. Sunday afternoon sees 7ft of SSW swell with a nice 14-second period – that’s a proper groundswell. The wind is offshore from the NW, and it’s clean. The combined energy is strong, at 1519, so there’s serious push behind those waves. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. Lake Ferry (Lake Ferry) is a sandbar setup, so it can be a bit fickle, and it’s exposed, but when it lines up like this, it’s special. The water temp is around 55°, which is pretty average for this time of year. Crowds can show up here sometimes, so don’t expect to have it all to yourself. Monday the 14th keeps the goods rolling with 6ft from the SSW and offshore winds – another clean session for the more experienced crew.
After that, the quality fades again. Tuesday the 15th is still surfable with 4ft from the S, but the wind builds and by afternoon a fresh breeze messes it up. From Wednesday the 16th through to the end of the outlook, it’s largely a mix of onshore winds and small, choppy surf. Not really worth the drive.
If you’re looking for the best on offer, it’s Sunday the 13th through Monday the 14th. That’s your window. The rest is mostly for the die-hards or the kite surfers when the wind picks up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Thu morning, calm by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | SSE 7 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
396 | 163 | 173 | 125 | 81 | 55 | 49 | 34 | 21 | 18 | 110 | 666 | 443 | 237 | 151 | 500 | 3193 | 4306 | 2506 | 1519 | 1174 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:01PM1.40m | 1:26AM1.25m | 1:56PM1.40m | 2:20AM1.25m | 2:51PM1.40m | 3:15AM1.26m | 3:46PM1.38m | 4:10AM1.26m | 4:40PM1.35m | 5:05AM1.26m | 5:34PM1.31m | 6:00AM1.25m | 6:28PM1.27m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:22PM0.06m | 7:35AM0.03m | 8:17PM0.06m | 8:31AM0.02m | 9:12PM0.05m | 9:28AM0.02m | 10:07PM0.06m | 10:25AM0.02m | 11:02PM0.06m | 11:22AM0.04m | 11:56PM0.08m | 12:20PM0.07m | 00:49AM0.10m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | |
mm | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 11 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 8 |
Feels °C | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
47 | 58 | 173 | 125 | 81 | 55 | 49 | 34 | 21 | 18 | 110 | 72 | 246 | 168 | 48 | 158 | 2344 | 4306 | 2506 | 1519 | 1174 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 19 | — | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | E 7 | ENE 13 | — | — | — | NNW 5 |
3 | 43 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 71 | — | 237 | 151 | 1 | 17 | — | — | — | 16 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | — | SSW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 19 | S 18 | ESE 8 | S 22 | NW 7 | NE 14 | — | — | NE 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | 21 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 8 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | SSE 7 | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | — | NNW 4 | SSW 7 | SSW 11 | — | NW 4 | NNW 4 | — |
396 | 163 | 30 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 179 | 80 | 86 | 666 | 443 | — | 7 | 500 | 3193 | — | 45 | 34 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 64 | 64 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 19 | 82 | 82 | 42 | 130 | 27 | 10 | 27 | 47 | 42 | 91 | 23 | 27 | 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.










