
Surf Forecasts:
Lake Ferry surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 4,486 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 14s period. 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
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’s on the cards for Lake Ferry over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, this isn’t looking like a run of classic days, but there are a couple of moments that could be worth the drive. The biggest issue is the swell size – we get some serious power coming through, but it’s often too much for this spot, especially on the 12th and 23rd of September where it's predicted to be too big for the break. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, so nothing weird there.
The first real chance comes on Monday, 14th September. The morning is looking magic with a 6ft SSW swell at 12 seconds and glassy conditions. You’ll feel that combined energy (944) – it’s got some push. The afternoon cleans up even more with a 5ft S swell at 11 seconds and glass again. This is the standout of the forecast. The wind is offshore from the SW for that afternoon session, which is as good as it gets here. Crowds can happen at Lake Ferry, so beat the rush.
After that, Tuesday the 15th offers small but clean surf. The morning has a 3ft S swell at 10 seconds with offshore winds from the N – clean lines, but it’s weak with only 238 combined energy. The afternoon drops right off to 2ft.
We hit a real rough patch from Wednesday the 16th through Friday the 18th. A lot of these days have poor conditions and barely any swell worth paddling for, with energy dropping as low as 43. But then, Friday afternoon, 18th September, throws a little surprise – a 4ft SSW swell at 14 seconds with glassy conditions. Combined energy of 554, and it’s very good. That one might sneak up on you.
The weekend of the 19th and 20th gets messy again. Saturday morning the 19th has a clean 5ft SSW swell at 14 seconds (822 energy), but the wind switches onshore in the afternoon, ruining it. Sunday the 20th is a write-off with strong cross-onshore winds.
Looking further out, Monday the 21st is salvageable with a glassy morning and a 4ft S swell at 11 seconds (404 energy). Then we’ve got a couple of quiet days before a big, messy pulse on the 23rd of September that's just too large again.
The real gem in the second week? That’s Friday the 25th. The afternoon is pure glass with a 4ft SSW swell at 14 seconds (517 energy). That's got very good written all over it. The morning before it is also glassy, with a smaller 2ft SSW swell at 15 seconds – that long period will feel nice, but it might be a bit straight for the sandbar, so keep your wits about you.
So, to wrap it up: your best bets are the morning and afternoon of Monday the 14th, and the afternoon of Friday the 25th. Those are the ones I’d be circling on the calendar.
Stay wet,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Wed morning, calm by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | SSW 13 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 6 | S 5 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1846 | 4243 | 2941 | 1423 | 1931 | 1297 | 944 | 675 | 381 | 194 | 66 | 38 | 33 | 22 | 39 | 69 | 77 | 27 | 48 | 534 | 1016 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross-on | off | glassy | glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | off |
High Tide | 5:34PM1.31m | 6:00AM1.25m | 6:28PM1.27m | 6:54AM1.25m | 7:22PM1.23m | 7:48AM1.25m | 8:14PM1.20m | 8:40AM1.24m | 9:06PM1.17m | 9:30AM1.24m | 9:55PM1.14m | 10:19AM1.23m | 10:43PM1.12m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:22AM0.04m | 11:56PM0.08m | 12:20PM0.07m | 00:49AM0.10m | 1:15PM0.10m | 1:40AM0.12m | 2:10PM0.13m | 2:30AM0.15m | 3:02PM0.15m | 3:18AM0.18m | 3:52PM0.18m | 4:05AM0.20m | 4:39PM0.21m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 7 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | NW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 13 | S 5 | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
1846 | 4243 | 2941 | 1423 | 1174 | 1297 | 944 | 675 | 381 | 194 | 66 | 38 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 42 | 31 | 27 | 43 | 534 | 1016 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | NNE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | — | — | E 3 | SSW 15 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | NW 6 | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | ESE 13 | SE 12 |
4 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 6 | — | — | 1 | 42 | 49 | 18 | 33 | 17 | 39 | 69 | 1 | 19 | 48 | 17 | 23 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 13 | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — | — | SE 12 | E 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 9 | SE 11 | S 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 14 | SE 14 | E 12 | — |
7 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 39 | 34 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 8 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 4 | SSW 13 | — | — | — | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | SW 4 | NNW 5 | S 6 | — | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 4 |
— | — | — | 7 | 1931 | — | — | — | 2 | 12 | 22 | 48 | 172 | 278 | 7 | 3 | 77 | — | 13 | 14 | 32 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 64 | 42 | 9 | 25 | 64 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 82 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 10 | 64 | 9 | 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.










