
Surf Forecasts:
Lake Ferry surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, SSW swell with 937 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. 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 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lake Ferry over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, listen up. The outlook for the next couple weeks is a real slow burner. There's a big lull to start, then some serious swell arrives, but the wind plays games. Let's break it down.
First up is Lake Ferry (sandbar), and we're kicking off with hardly a bump. The water temp is running at 51°, a bit colder than normal for the season. On Monday morning the 10th, there's a tiny 0.7m south swell with a short wait between waves and weak energy (115), but it is glassy calm. That's your only chance for a few days; the rest of the week is flat to knee-high slop. A real slow patch.
Come Tuesday the 11th, things jump: 1.8m south swell, but the period is short at 8 seconds and the wind is onshore. Energy picks up (518) but the quality is poor. That bigger swell hangs around but the wind doesn't clean up properly.
The real standout is Friday the 21st of August. The morning brings a clean 1.3m south swell with a long 13-second period and a light offshore wind from the NE. Energy is a solid 707. It gets even better in the afternoon: 1.5m south swell, a 14-second period, and it turns glassy. That's the absolute best session on offer – proper groundswell, clean as a whistle, energy jumping to 1177. Just a heads up, with that long period at a sandbar, the waves might run a bit straight, but in those conditions, you won't care. Be aware that crowds can show up here sometimes.
Saturday the 22nd is still worth a paddle in the morning with 1.0m of clean offshore swell and a good 11-second period, but Sunday the 23rd and beyond goes flat again.
So to sum it up: a long, quiet first week and a half, then one absolute cracker of a day on Friday the 21st. That's the one to aim for.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the S by Sat night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 9 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
86 | 358 | 439 | 266 | 107 | 38 | 33 | 29 | 16 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 48 | 23 | 93 | 253 | 214 | 937 | 911 | 388 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:36AM1.27m | 3:08PM1.45m | 3:32AM1.28m | 4:05PM1.45m | 4:29AM1.28m | 5:01PM1.44m | 5:26AM1.28m | 5:57PM1.41m | 6:23AM1.27m | 6:53PM1.37m | 7:20AM1.26m | 7:49PM1.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:33PM0.05m | 8:46AM0.00m | 9:31PM0.04m | 9:44AM-0.02m | 10:28PM0.03m | 10:42AM-0.03m | 11:26PM0.02m | 11:41AM-0.02m | 00:22AM0.03m | 12:40PM0.00m | 1:17AM0.04m | 1:38PM0.03m | 2:11AM0.06m | |||||||
— | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
Feels °C | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 0 | -1 | -1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SE 12 | SE 12 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | E 9 | ESE 10 | SSW 14 |
86 | 71 | 66 | 266 | 107 | 38 | 24 | 29 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 59 | 178 | 166 | 473 | 19 | 163 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 9 | SSW 15 | SE 10 | SW 5 | E 10 | ESE 8 | E 10 | — | — | E 10 |
21 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | — | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | NW 8 | E 12 | S 20 | SW 11 | S 16 | S 15 | E 10 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 9 | E 14 | SE 10 | E 14 | SE 13 | SE 14 | — | — | SE 16 |
8 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 25 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | — | — | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | S 7 | S 8 | — | ENE 3 | NNE 2 | ENE 6 | NNW 2 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | NE 2 | — | SE 8 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | S 7 |
10 | 358 | 439 | — | 3 | 1 | 87 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 48 | 23 | 93 | 253 | 214 | 937 | 911 | 388 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 64 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 14 | 64 | 64 | 130 | 164 | 224 | 183 | 274 | 236 |
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.











