Lake Ferry Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.40° S 175.15° E

Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lake Ferry sea temperature is
10.9° C
1.1° 

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 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, S swell with 1,335 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s 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 20) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 18s. 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 2.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Thu 20th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Best Surf12AM (Fri 21st Aug)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Most Powerful 3AM (Thu 20th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for our local sandbar, Lake Ferry.

First things first, the water's sitting at 51.6° – that's a bit colder than what we're used to for this time of year, so you'll want that extra-thick wetsuit. Don't let that put you off, though, because there's a serious pulse of energy headed our way, a massive 4079 (moderate to strong wave energy) in the water by Wednesday the 19th of August afternoon. We're talking a solid 9.8ft southerly swell with a 14-second period. That's a proper groundswell, packing a punch. Now, this is a big one – over 8.2ft, so this is strictly for the experienced crew. The wind is onshore from the SSW at 9 mph, which isn't ideal, but the report mentions the tide and wind are favorable for the break. Still, that size is a beast.

The real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is the Friday morning of the 21st of August. That's where it all comes together. We've got a 5.2ft southerly swell, but the period stretches out to a very long 15 seconds. That's pure, grunty groundswell energy (1239 energy), perfect for a sandbar like Lake Ferry. More importantly, the wind is swinging around to a clean, off-NNE direction at just 6 mph. That's pure, clean, offshore conditions. This will be excellent for experienced surfers looking for some proper lined-up walls. Expect a few long lulls between sets, but the waves that come through will be well worth the paddle.

Friday afternoon looks a bit less appealing as the wind swings cross-off and picks up.

The rest of the week is a write-off thanks to strong winds, with the swell dropping right out by the weekend. There's a glimmer on Monday the 24th and again on Thursday the 27th of August with some waist-high swell and lighter winds, but nothing that really jumps off the page compared to that Friday morning session.

After that, it's a long, quiet stretch right through to the start of September. The energy fades away and we get a run of small, choppy conditions with onshore winds. The system tries to kick up again on the 2nd of September with a 8.2ft S swell, but the wind is nasty cross-onshore, making it a messy, blown-out mess. That kind of size and wind at a beach setup might be more interesting for the kite crew than for us paddle surfers.

So, bottom line: the best bet by a country mile is the Friday morning of the 21st of August. Get on it before it gets messy. The near-term Wednesday is a big wave option only for the brave. After that, it's a waiting game.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Wed afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, strong winds from the NNW by Sat morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Sat night, light winds from the N by Sun night).

Wed
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
3
2
3
4
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
1
0
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)
3
S
14
2.2
S
13
1.7
S
12
1.6
S
9
1.6
S
12
1.6
S
15
1.4
SSW
13
1.1
S
12
0.9
SSW
11
0.9
S
11
0.6
S
10
0.4
S
10
0.3
S
9
0.3
SSW
16
1
SSW
11
1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
1.1
SSW
14
1.1
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4054
1682
814
395
773
1232
669
330
202
188
73
30
15
49
214
389
341
331
472
452
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
10
SSW
5
SSW
5
SSW
5
NE
10
NNE
20
NNW
30
NNW
40
NNW
40
NW
40
NW
35
NW
25
NW
15
NW
15
N
15
NNW
20
NNW
35
NW
40
NW
35
NW
Wind State
on
on
on
glassy
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:28PM1.18m
10:54AM1.22m
11:17PM1.14m
11:42AM1.21m
00:03AM1.12m
12:27PM1.21m
00:48AM1.10m
1:11PM1.20m
1:31AM1.09m
1:55PM1.20m
2:14AM1.09m
2:39PM1.20m
2:57AM1.08m
Low Tide
4:40AM0.16m
5:11PM0.19m
5:26AM0.20m
5:59PM0.22m
6:10AM0.22m
6:44PM0.24m
6:53AM0.24m
7:28PM0.25m
7:35AM0.24m
8:12PM0.26m
8:18AM0.23m
8:56PM0.26m
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:01
7:00
6:58
6:56
6:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:40
5:42
5:43
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:46
 mm
Temp °C
9
9
10
10
9
13
13
10
13
13
13
14
15
12
14
14
12
14
13
14
Feels °C
5
6
8
8
7
10
9
5
5
5
6
8
10
7
10
10
8
7
5
10
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  • 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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