
Surf Forecasts:
Lake Ferry surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with 13,365 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 cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lake Ferry in the next 16 days are 6.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 20ft (6.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lake Ferry over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Lake Ferry has in store for us.
Honestly, looking at the next 16 days, it’s a frustrating picture for Lake Ferry. For the first several days, it’s just not happening. From now right through to the morning of the 11th, the surf is either too small, blown out, or just plain messy. We’re talking combined swell energy readings stuck under 300 (weak to low moderate) and onshore or cross-off winds that are ruining any chance of a decent wave. The water temp is sitting at about 55°, which is normal for this time of year.
The first real sign of life shows up on the morning of Friday, 11th September. There’s a jump in energy to 602 (moderate) with a 6ft swell from the SSW, but the period is a short 7 seconds. The wind is light and cross-off from the NNW, keeping things clean. It’s forecast as “very good,” but with that short period, it’ll be a bit stacked and lumpy. It’s your best bet for a surfable wave in the whole window, but it’s not a standout.
After that, it gets a bit wild. Saturday morning the 12th sees a big jump to 8ft from the SSW, but the combined energy rockets to 2293 (strong). By the afternoon, it’s 10ft with 3663 energy. The wind is turning onshore from the SSW though, and the forecast actually says it’s too big for this break – that’s a red flag for paddle surfing. This kind of setup with onshore wind and a powerful, straight swell looks more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle session.
Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th are pure chaos with 20ft and 13ft swells, energy readings hitting five figures (12224 and 5925), and howling onshore or cross-off winds. This is expert-only territory, and likely unsurfable here.
Things finally settle down by the morning of Tuesday the 15th, with a 6ft S swell and a 12-second period, but the energy is still a hefty 1023 (moderate-strong) and the wind is a moderate cross-off from the NNW. The forecast calls it “marginal,” so it’s a maybe. From there, it trails off into small, weak, or windy conditions right through to the end of the 21st.
Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, that Friday morning on the 11th is the only real window. Otherwise, Lake Ferry is giving us a long, tough stretch with very little to get excited about.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 49mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Wed night, calm by Fri night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 10 | S 7 | SE 7 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
201 | 170 | 393 | 99 | 173 | 125 | 86 | 74 | 49 | 34 | 12 | 73 | 143 | 324 | 326 | 240 | 237 | 2293 | 3663 | 4136 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | on | on |
High Tide | 00:31AM1.24m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:27PM0.07m | 6:40AM0.04m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | 1 | 24 | 21 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | — | — | 4 | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 7 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | -1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | NW 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | S 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | — |
201 | 36 | 47 | 86 | 173 | 125 | 86 | 74 | 49 | 34 | 12 | 73 | 143 | 79 | 276 | 107 | 214 | 2293 | 3663 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | SSW 9 | SW 15 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 20 | — | SSW 18 | — | NE 13 | — | — |
93 | 48 | 3 | 69 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 75 | — | 240 | — | 7 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 15 | NW 8 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 19 | SW 12 | ESE 8 | S 22 | NW 6 | N 19 | SSW 9 | ESE 7 | — | — | — |
2 | 2 | 2 | 43 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 34 | 5 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | SSW 10 | S 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 | S 6 | SSW 7 | WNW 3 | SSW 6 | — | — | SSW 14 |
247 | 170 | 393 | 99 | 39 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 323 | 205 | 77 | 324 | 326 | 6 | 237 | — | — | 4136 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 82 | 105 | 112 | 64 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 10 | 27 | 82 | 94 | 31 | 112 | 9 | 91 | 9 | 25 | 431 | 91 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










