Lake Ferry Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.40° S 175.15° E

Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 09 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lake Ferry sea temperature is
13.2°C
1.2° 

Lake Ferry surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Lake Ferry surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 3,883 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 15s. 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Fri 11th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 7s
Best Surf 6PM (Sat 12th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 9PM (Sat 12th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lake Ferry over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. It’s a slow start, so don’t be in a rush to grab your board.

We’re looking at Lake Ferry, and honestly, the first few days are a write-off. Wednesday through to Thursday, the 10th, the surf is pretty poor. The swell is tiny, or the wind is all wrong, and the energy is just not there. On Thursday afternoon, we get a bit of a bump to 4 ft, but it’s a short period 4-second wind swell with onshore wind, so it’s not going to be pretty. You’re better off staying home.

Friday the 11th shows a long-period 18-second swell pushing through, with a combined energy of 399 (moderate), but it’s still only a marginal call. The cross-offshore wind is okay, but the swell is small and the conditions are described as questionable. It’s a tease.

Now, mark your calendar for Saturday morning, the 12th of September. This is your standout. The wind is dead calm, glassy, with a light breeze from the east at 3 mph. The swell is a solid 5 ft from the SSW with a long 15-second period, pumping in with a combined energy of 1202 (strong). This is a proper groundswell, and the conditions are glassy. The water temp is 56°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s not a total ice bath. This is a session for experienced surfers, as the size is getting up there—beginner territory is a no-go. The swell is from the south, which is the optimum direction for this sandbar, and the offshore wind from the NNE will keep it clean. This is the best on offer by a long shot. The afternoon ramps up to 8 ft, but the wind switches onshore, making it a bit of a mess and potentially too big for the average punter.

Sunday the 13th is still big, with 8 ft to 7 ft from the SSW, but the wind is cross-onshore, putting ripples on the face. It’s a marginal session for the experts. Monday the 14th morning is a nice return to form: 5 ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the north at 6 mph. The combined energy of 768 (moderate) is good, but it’s not as strong as Saturday. Still, a solid option for a Monday morning surf.

The rest of the second week is a bit of a mixed bag. Tuesday the 15th through to the 20th sees the swell drop off and the wind pick up, with a lot of cross-offshore breezes and fresh winds that kill the quality. There’s nothing really worth chasing. The energy is weak, mostly under 300, and the conditions are described as poor or marginal.

We get a couple of late-period pulses. On the 21st of September, there’s a 5 ft 13-second swell on Monday morning, but the wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s just a marginal look. Then on Tuesday the 22nd, we get a 8 ft 8-second wind swell, but it’s onshore and short period, so it’s going to be a lumpy, choppy mess with a combined energy of 1156. Not for the faint of heart.

Finally, on Wednesday morning, the 23rd of September—a week and a half out—we see a beast of a swell: 10 ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, and a combined energy of 2948 (very strong). The wind is a light easterly, making it clean. But here’s the catch: the forecast says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. That’s a warning. For the experts only, and even then, it’s a risky call. It’s a long-range forecast, so take it with a grain of salt, but it’s the only other big pulse in the window.

The 24th settles back down to a small 3 ft, which is clean but not worth driving for.

So, the two standouts are Saturday morning, the 12th for the best combination of clean, glassy conditions and solid, long-period swell, and Wednesday the 23rd for the raw power, but only if you’re a seasoned pro and the forecast holds. The rest of the time, you’re picking through marginal scraps.

Stay patient, and don’t sleep on that Saturday.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 6°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Wed night, calm by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
4
3
!
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.3
S
8
0.2
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
4
2
SSW
7
0.7
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
15
2.5
SSW
14
3
SSW
14
2.4
SSW
13
2.2
SSW
12
1.8
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
12
1.4
SSW
12
1.2
SSW
11
1.1
S
10
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
34
34
12
18
58
371
270
120
339
1136
2480
3600
1872
1360
928
768
560
376
270
145
117
Wind (km/h)
10
NNE
15
NW
40
NW
25
NW
25
S
15
S
15
NNW
20
NNW
10
SE
5
E
5
SSW
10
NNE
5
WSW
10
S
10
NNE
10
N
15
NW
15
NNE
20
NNW
35
NW
40
NW
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
on
off
cross-on
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
6:54AM1.25m
7:22PM1.23m
7:48AM1.25m
8:14PM1.20m
Low Tide
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
1:15PM0.10m
1:40AM0.12m
2:10PM0.13m
2:30AM0.15m
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:24
6:22
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:01
6:02
6:04
6:05
6:06
6:07
6:07
 mm
1
9
1
1
Temp °C
13
13
12
12
8
8
12
12
9
12
12
8
13
13
7
16
16
9
15
15
13
Feels °C
10
9
5
7
3
3
5
7
7
10
9
5
10
10
4
13
12
6
10
8
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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