Surf Forecasts:
Lake Ferry surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SSW swell with 4,473 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 16s 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 5.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 10s |
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 coming down the line for Lake Ferry. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with some real power on the way, but also some long quiet spells and conditions that just won’t play ball.
First up, we’ve got a massive pulse of energy hitting Wednesday morning, the 2nd of September. The swell is a solid 10 ft from the SSW with a very long 17-second period, and the combined energy is absolutely pumping at 5028. That’s serious power. However, the wind is a cross-off from the NNW at 12 mph, which keeps the surface clean, but honestly, this is too much for the spot. Beginners should steer well clear, and even for the experienced crew, it’s pushing the limits. The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Wednesday afternoon sees a drop to 8 ft from the S, but the wind picks up to 16 mph and the conditions look marginal. By Thursday morning, the 3rd, the swell has backed off to 5 ft, but the wind is up to 19 mph, and the score is low. The rest of that week and into the next is a pretty grim run. From Thursday afternoon all the way through to Sunday the 6th, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell with energy readings in the low hundreds or even under 100, all blown out by strong breezes. This is a real flat spell – about four days of nothing worth paddling out for.
Then Monday the 7th throws another curveball. A big 15 ft SSW swell rolls in, with a short 9-second period and massive energy over 3000. But the wind is directly onshore from the SSW at 19 mph, making it a total mess. This is one for the windsurfers or kite crew, not for a clean surf. The quality is poor, and it’s too big anyway.
Finally, we get a glimmer of hope. On Tuesday morning, the 8th of September, the swell drops to a more manageable 5 ft from the S, but the real story is the wind. A light offshore breeze from the NNE at just 3 mph will have the conditions glassy and clean. The period is 9 seconds, so it’s not a groundswell, but it’s surfable. The energy is moderate at 425. This is your best bet in the first week, but it’s only a morning window – the afternoon swings onshore.
The following week is a bit of a lottery. Wednesday the 9th is marginal, but the standout is Monday the 14th of September. A 10 ft SW swell returns with a 9-second period and energy at 1479. The wind is light offshore from the N at 6 mph, which is perfect for clean conditions. The catch is, it’s still 10 ft, so again, only for the experienced. Beginners, stay on the beach. That morning is the pick of the whole two-week run.
Tuesday the 15th offers a smaller option with a 3 ft S swell and a light offshore breath, but it’s not in the same league. The rest of the second week fades into small, weak, or blown-out conditions. The long-range stuff on the 16th and 17th is too far out to rely on, and looks messy.
So, to boil it down: the standout is Tuesday morning, the 8th of September, for the clean, offshore conditions and a decent 5 ft, but it’s a small window. The real big-game option is Monday morning, the 14th of September, with a solid 10 ft and perfect light offshore wind, but it’s only for experts. For the rest of us, it’s a long wait.
Stay salty,
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 6°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Sun morning, light winds from the SE by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5028 | 3108 | 1514 | 579 | 336 | 156 | 33 | 48 | 118 | 20 | 57 | 140 | 100 | 201 | 48 | 3316 | 3848 | 1026 | 417 | 395 | 182 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | off | off | on | off |
High Tide | 8:57PM1.20m | 9:23AM1.26m | 9:50PM1.20m | 10:17AM1.31m | 10:43PM1.21m | 11:11AM1.35m | 11:37PM1.23m | 12:06PM1.38m | 00:31AM1.24m | 1:01PM1.40m | 1:26AM1.25m | 1:56PM1.40m | 2:20AM1.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:51PM0.14m | 3:12AM0.14m | 3:45PM0.12m | 4:02AM0.12m | 4:38PM0.10m | 4:54AM0.09m | 5:32PM0.09m | 5:46AM0.07m | 6:27PM0.07m | 6:40AM0.04m | 7:22PM0.06m | 7:35AM0.03m | 8:17PM0.06m | ||||||||
6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 9 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 7 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSW 7 | SW 6 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | NW 8 | SSE 8 |
5028 | 3108 | 1514 | 579 | 336 | 156 | 33 | 26 | 118 | 10 | 57 | 140 | 38 | 201 | 48 | 11 | 9 | 1026 | 417 | 3 | 55 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 12 | — | — | E 10 | SE 10 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | S 9 | SSW 16 | S 8 | SSW 10 | NNW 8 | — | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 |
— | 6 | — | — | 2 | 4 | 30 | 48 | 21 | 20 | 45 | 2 | 100 | 1 | 21 | 6 | — | 8 | 8 | 4 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 10 | SE 11 | SSW 9 | SE 11 | E 11 | S 9 | E 10 | ENE 6 | — | — | SW 15 | NNW 9 | E 16 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 2 | 22 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | — | — | 8 | 8 | 5 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | — | NW 4 | S 9 | S 6 |
18 | 35 | 202 | 183 | 363 | 206 | 621 | 185 | 170 | 157 | 102 | 171 | 269 | 271 | 451 | 3316 | 3848 | — | 14 | 395 | 182 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 27 | 27 | 84 | 91 | 82 | 82 | 130 | 94 | 145 | 31 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 34 | 140 | 160 | 9 | 9 | 130 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











